UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
AT  LOS  ANGELES 


of 

AT 
ANGELES 


THE  NORTHERN  PARTS 


OF    THE 


UNITED  STATES, 


THE   YEARS  1807  AND  1SO«. 

BY  EDWARD  AUGUSTUS  KENDALL,  ESQ. 

IN  THREE  VOLUMES. 
VOLUME  I. 

JVEW-YORK.- 

Printed  and  published  by  I.  Uiler. 

1809. 

14.1383 


"'    v    -    - 


DISTRICT  OF  NEW-YORK, «. 

TIE  IT  REMEMBERED,  That  on  the  twenty-seventh  day  of  Octo- 
Jj  ber,  in  the  thirty -fourth  year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  ISAAC  RILEV,  of  the  said  district,  hath  deposit- 
ed in  this  office  the  title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as 
proprietor,  in  the  words  and  figures  following,  to  wit : 

. 

"  Travels  through  the  Northern  parts  of  the  United  States,  in  the 
"  years  1807  and  1808,  by  Edward  Augustus  Kendall,  Esq.  in  three 
"  volumes.  Volume  I. 

IN  CONFORMITY  to  the  act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  entitled,  "  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  se- 
"  curing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and 
"  proprietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned  ;" 
and  also  to  an  act,  entitled,  "  An  act,  supplementary  to  an  act,  en- 
*i  titled,  an  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the 
**  copies  of  maps,  charts  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprie- 
tors of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned,  and  ex- 
"  tending  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving  and 
"  etching  historical  and.  other  prints." 

CHARLES  CLINTON, 

Clerk  of  the  District  of  New-York. 


PI 


PREFACE. 

THAT  part  of  the  United  States  which  com- 
prehends -what  are  variously  called  the  Northern 
States  and  Eastern  States,  and  which  retains  its 
ancient  name  of  New  England,  is,  in  many  par- 
ticulars, distinguishable  from  the  remainder.  It 
differs,  not  only  in  its  climate,  soil,  natural  pro- 
ductions and  agriculture,  but  in  the  history  of  its 

H 

colonization,  in  the  objects  of  many  of  its  insti- 
tutions, in  its  modes  of  thinking  and  manners  of 
life,  in  its  civil  occupations,  and,  perhaps,   in  its 
political  interests. 

It  is  exclusively  to  this  part  that  what  fol- 
lows lias  reference.  In  it  are  the  seats  of  Jive 
republics,  no  longer  dependent  on  Europe  for  po- 
pulation, but  from  which,  on  the  contrary,  emi- 
grants have  proceeded,  in  nuntbers,  to  people 
and  to  cultivate  the  western  limits  of  the  empire, 

and  to   enrich  themselves  by  the  commerce  of 
the  southern. 

Travels,  performed  in  the  other  parts  (\f  '  the 
country,  would  present  views  of  a  larger 


iv  PREFACE. 

than  are  to  be  expected  from  travels  in  this  ;  more 
extent  and  diversity  of  surface  ;  more  variety  of 
customs  and  manners  ;  more  employment  for  the 
eye  and  for  the  imagination.  They  -would  embrace, 
also,  that  portion  of  the  soil,  to  which  those,  who 
leave  Europe,  to  find  a  new  and  permanent  home 
in  the  United  States,  in  almost  all  instances  direct 
their  course  ;  and,  not  only  this,  but  they  would 
embrace  the  metropolis,  'and  consequently  the  scene 
in  which  the  composition  and  character  of  the 
general  government  can  wth  most  propriety  be 
surveyed.  At  distant  points,  the  foreign  travel- 
ler has  necessarily  to  fear,  that  the  impressions 
•which  are  made  upon  him,  by  local  and  provincial 
feelings  and  prejudices,  may  usurp,  in  his  mind, 
that  place  -which  should  be  given  only  to  such  as 
are  universal.  It  is  one  thing  to  behold  the 
hill  from  the  plain,  and  another  to  behold  the  plain 
from  the  hill*. 

Local  subjects,  however*  are  within  the  com- 
pass of  local  travels  ;  and  to  those,  in  chief 
proportion,  these  pages  are  conjined  ;  or,  where 
the  subjects  are  general,  it  is  their  local  bearings 
which  are  in  question.  If  the  northern  parts 
of  the  United  States  cannot  inspire  that  interest 


PREFACE.  T 

which  belongs  to  the  southern,  they  can  inspire  an 
interest  which  is  their  own.  Their  natural 
and  civil  history,  their  actual  condition  and  their 
future  prospects  are  their  own  ;  and  there  are 
several  aspects  under  which  the  acquaintance 
that  we  may  make  with  them  will  reward  the 
'pains.  The  picture  is  beside  more  novel. 

The  intention  of  travel  is  the  discovery    of 
truth  ;    but,  multiplied  as  are  the  occasions  of 
error,  its  failures  cannot  but  be  frequent.    Has- 
tily to  adopt  falsehood  is  a  reproach  to  our  under- 
standing, and  -wilfully  to  propagate  it  is  a  re- 
proach to  our  hearts;    but,  the  mistakes,  that 
amid  our    caution,     we    commit,    are-   offences 
into  which  the  best  and   wisest   are  betrayed, 
ami  which  the  wisest  and  best  find  it  easy  to 
forgive. 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  I. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Connecticut  —  Election-day,  1 

CHAPTER  II. 
Connecticut  —  Situation  —  Towns  —  Counties,    8 

CHAPTER  III. 
Connecticut  —  Government,  20 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Connecticut  —  Legislature,  25 

CHAPTER  V. 

Connecticut  —  Mode  of  Election,  27 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Connecticut  —  Elective  Franchise, 


viii  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  VII.  Pag, 

Connecticut — Constitution  of  Government,    50 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Connecticut —  JVethersjield — Middletown,   83 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Connecticut — Haddam-~East  Haddam,     97 

CHAPTER  X. 
Connecticut— -Societies  and  Churches,      106 

CHAPTER  XL 
Connecticut — Berlin,  117 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Connecticut — Hartford,  129 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Connecticut — Hartford  Poetry,         145 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Connecticut — Theatrical  Prohibition,       164 


CONTENTS.  4* 

CHAPTER  XV.  Page 

Connecticut — General  Assembly — Courts  of  , 

Justice,  169 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Connecticut— -Trial  by  Jury,  182 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
Connecticut — Taxation,       ,  186   >/ 

CHAPTER  XVIIL 

Connecticut — Taxes  and  Public   Ex- 
penditure, 192     - 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Connecticut — Statistical  and  Historical 

Notes,  194  £ 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Connecticut — Windsor,  202 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

Connecticut — Newgate  Prison,         206 


«  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXII.  pago 

Connecticut —  Can  ton —  Canaan — Hart  land 

Colebrook— Norfolk,  219 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

• 

Connecticu  t —  Canaan —  Salisbury —  Sharon,   22  7 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 
Connecticut—Goshen — Litchjleld,        23  5 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
Connecticut — Kent — Inscriptions,         241 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
Connecticut —  JFoodbridge — Newhaven,    247 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
Connecticut — Yale  College,  258 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 
Connecticut — Schools>  265 


CONTENTS.  xi 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 


Connecticut  —  Ancient  Government  of  New- 

haven,  275 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Connecticut  —  Newhaven  Blue-laws,       283 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 
Connecticut  —  New  London,  290 

CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Connecticut  —  Montville  —  Moheagan  Lands  — 
Norwich  —  Lebanon,  300 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

Connecticu  t  —  Windham  —  IViti,  ington,      314 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 
Connecticut  —  Stafford  Springs—  Pomfret,     324 


ERRATA. 
VOLUME  1. 


2,  1.    4,  for  one,  read  on. 

5,  1.  19,  after  by,  r.  the. 
14,  note,  line  II,  for  need,  f.  needs, 
Jl8,  1.  19,  /or  was,  r.  were. 
134,  1.  6,  dele  which. 
J35,  dele  the  first  note. 
161,  1.  11,  for  enforce,  r.  expose. 
182,  1.  5,  for  constitution,  r.  institution, 
292,  1.  27,  /br'Mameag,  r.  Namcag. 
300,  1.  13,'<fefeto. 
20),  1.  13,  21,  for  sixty-nine,  r.  seventy-eight 


VOLUME  II.    '. 

26, 1.    7, /or  falnis,  r.  fabrics. 
10,  after  in,  r.  the. 

47, 1.  11,  /or  had,  r.  have. 

12,  "before  there,  r.  of  which. 

78,   .  20,  note,  after  of,  r.  the.. 
104,  .  21,  before  more,  r.  not. 
107,   .  16,  for  burst,  r.  bursts. 
J12,  .  23,/or  unworthiness,  r.  worthiness, 
110,   .  22,/or  to,  r.  with. 
189,   .29,  after  of,  dele  the. 
J98,   .  23,  26,  for  poke.  r.  yoke. 
216,  .  23,  /or  reduced,  r.  induced, 
'J22,  .  18,  rf<?/e  cut. 


VOLUME  III. 


0, 1.  18,  for  democrats,  r. 


16,, 

30, 

37, 

S3, 

119, 

128, 

Jf>7, 

175, 

217, 


9,  after  latter,  read  in. 
10,  for  wood,  r.  road. 
15,  after  of,  r.  the. 

G,/or  in  districts,  r.  by  distress. 
26,  after  pardonable,  r.  or. 
21,  /or  academy's,  r.  academic. 
13,  /or  increased,  r.  exercised. 
27,_/br  nearer,  r.  near. 
2,  w/ter  add-,  6W<?  a. 


in  th    table,  for  452,  r.  254. 

299,     20,  after  disposed,  r.  of. 

,T01?     lf>,for  and  a  burgh,  r.  of  Alburgft, 


TRAVELS 


THROUGH 


PART  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Connecticut — Election-day. 

IN  the  spring  of  the  year  1807, 1  visited  those 
districts  of  the  United  States  which  lie  eastward 
of  Hudson's  river,  and  which  include  the  territo- 
ries of  five  states  ;  Connecticut,  Rhode- Island  and 
Massachusetts,  New- Hampshire  and  Vermont. 

An  object  of  immediate  attraction  was  the 
great  festival  of  Connecticut,  called  the  Day  of 
General  Election,  and  popularly  the  Election- 
day,  held  annually  in  the  city  of  Hartford,  on 
the  second  Thursday  in  May.  Having  remained 
in  New- York  till  the  tenth  of  the  same  month, 
I  proceeded,  on  commencing  my  journey,  di- 

VOL.    I.  A 


2  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

rect  to  Hartford.  The  distance,  by  land,  is  a 
little  more  than  a  hundred  and  twenty  miles. 

The  election-day  is  at  present  that  one  which, 
at  the  meeting  of  the  general  assembly,  the 
written  votes  of  the  freemen,  for  a  governor, 
lieutenant-governor,  and  other  officers  appointed 
to  be  chosen,  are  counted,  the  result  declared, 
and  the  persons  elected  sworn  to  perform  the 
duties  of  their  respective  offices. 

I  reached  Hartford  at  noon,  on  Wednesday 
the  nineteenth  of  May.  The  city  is  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Connecticut,  forty-five  miles 
above  its  mouth.  The  governor,  whose  family 
residence  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  river,  at  some 
distance  from  Hartford,  was  expected  to  arrive 
in  the  evening.  This  gentleman,  whose  name  is 
Jonathan  Trumbull,  is  the  son  of  the  late 
Governor  Jonathan  Trumbull  ;  and  though 
the  election  is  annual,  he  has  himself  been  three 
or  four  years  in  office,  and  will  almost  certainly 
so  continue  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  It 
was  known  that  the  votes  were  at  this  time  in 
his  favour. 

The  governor  has  volunteer  companies  of 
guards,  both  horse  and  foot.  In  the  afternoon,  the 
horse  were  drawn  up  on  the  banks  of  the  river, 
to  .receive  him,  and  escort  him  to  his  lodgings. 
He  came  before  sunset ;  and  the  fineness  of  the 
evening,  the  beauty  of  the  river,  the  respectable. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  3 

appearance  of  the  governor  and  of  the  troop,  the 
dignity  of  the  occasion,  and  the  decorum  ob- 
served, united  to  gratify  the  spectator.  The 
colour  of  the  clothes  of  the  troop  was  blue.  The 
governor,  though  on  horseback,  was  dressed  in 
black  ;  but  he  wore  a  cockade,  in  a  hat  which 
I  did  not  like  the  less,  because  it  was  in  its  form 
rather  of  the  old  school  than  of  the  new. 

In  the  morning,  the  foot- guards  were  paraded 
in  front  of  the  state-house,  where  they  after- 
ward remained  under  arms,  while  the  troop  of 
horse  occupied  the  street  which  is  on  the  south 
side  of  the  building.  The  clothing  of  the  foot 
was  scarlet,  with  white  waistcoats  and  panta- 
loons ;  and  their  appearance  and  demeanour 
were  military. 

The  day  was  fine ;  and  the  apartments  and 
galleries  of  the  state-house  afforded  an  agreea- 
ble place  of  meeting,  in  which  the  members  of 
the  assembly  and  others  awaited  the  coming 
of  the  governor. 

At  about  eleven  o'clock,  his  excellency  en- 
tered the  state-house,  and  shortly  after  took  his 
place  at  the  head  of  a  procession,  which  was 
made  to  a  meeting-house  or  church,  at  some- 
thing less  than  half  a  mile  distance.  The  pro- 
cession was  on  foot  ;  and  was  composed  of  the 
person  of  the  governor,  together  with  the  lieu- 
tenant-governor, assistants,  high-sheriffs,  mem- 


4  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PAR? 

bers  of  the  lower  house  of  assembly,  and,  unless 
with  accidental  exceptions,  all  the  clergy  of  the 
state.  It  was  preceded  by  the  foot-guards,  and 
followed  by  the  horse  ;  and  attended  by  gazers, 
that  considering  the  size  and  population  of  the 
city,  may  be  said  to  have  been  numerous. 

The  church,  which  from  its  situation,  is  called 
the  South  Meeting-house,  is  a  small  one,  and 
was  resorted  to,  on  this  occasion,  only  because 
that  more  ordinarily  used  was  at  the  time 
rebuilding.  The  edifice  is  of  wood,  alike 
unornamented,  within  and  without  ;  and  when 
filled,  there  was  still  presented  to  the  eye  no- 
thing but  what  had  the  plainest  appearance. 
The  military  remained  in  the  street,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  a  few  officers,  to  whom  no  place  of  ho- 
nour or  distinction  was  assigned ;  neither  the  go- 
vernor nor  other  magistrates  were  accompanied 
with  any  insignia  of  office  ;  the  clergy  had  no  ca- 
nonical costume  j  and  there  were  no  females  in 
thex  church,  except  a  few  (rather  more  than  twenty 
in  number)  who  were  stationed  by  themselves,  in 
a  gallery,  opposite  the  pulpit,  in  quality  of  sing- 
ers. A  decent  order  was  the  highest  characteris- 
tic that  presented  itself. 

The  pulpit,  or,  as  it  is  here  called,  the  desk, 
was  filled  by  three,  if  not  four  clergymen  ;  a 
number  which,  by  its  form  and  dimensions, 
it  wns  able  to  accommodate.  Of  these,  one 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  5 

opened  the  service  with  a  prayer  ;  another  deli- 
vered a  sermon  ;  a  third  made  a  concluding 
prayer,  and  a  fourth  pronounced  a  benediction. 
Several  hymns  were  sung  ;  and,  among  others, 
an  occasional  one.  The  total  number  of  sing- 
ers was  between  forty  and  fifty. 

The  sermon,  as  will  be  supposed,  touched 
upon  matters  of  government.  When  all  was 
finished,  the  procession  returned  to  the  state- 
house.  The  clergy,  who  walked,  were  about  a 
hundred  in  number. 

It  was  in  the  two  bodies  of  guards  alone,  that 
any  suitable  approach  to  magnificence  disco- 
vered itself.  The  governor  was  full -dressed,  in 
a  suit  of  black  ;  but  the  lieutenant-governor 
wore  riding-boots.  All,  however,  was  consist- 
ently plain,  and  in  unison  with  itself,  except  the 
dress-swords,  which  were  worn  by  high-sheriffs, 
along  with  their  village  habiliments  ;  and  of 
which  the  fashion  and  the  materials  were  marvel- 
lously diversified. 

Arrived  in  front  of  the  state-house,  the  mili- 
tary formed  on  each  side  of  the  street  ;  and,  as 
the  governor  passed  them,  presented  arms. 
The  several  parts  of  the  procession  now  sepa- 
rated ;  each  retiring  to  a  dinner  prepared  for 
itself,  at  an  adjoining  inn ;  the  governor,  lieu- 
tenant-governor, and  assistants  to  their  table  ; 
the  clergy  to  a  second  ;  and  the  representatives 


£  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PAR! 

to  a  third.  The  time  of  day  was  about  two  in 
the  afternoon. 

Only  a  short  time  elapsed,  before  business 
was  resumed  ;  or,  rather,  at  length  commenced. 
The  general  assembly  met  in  the  council-room  ; 
and  the  written  votes  being  examined  and 
counted,  the  names  of  the  public  officers  elected 
were  formally  declared.  They  were  in  every  in- 
stance the  same  as  those  which  had  been  sue- 
cessful  the  preceding  year,  and  for  several  years 
before. 

This  done,  the  lieutenant-governor  adminis- 
tered the  oath  to  the  governor-elect,  who,  being 
sworn,  proceeded  to  administer  their  respective 
oaths  to  the  lieutenant-governor  and  the  rest ; 
and  here  terminated  the  affairs  of  the  election- 
day.  Soon  after  six  o'clock,  the  military  fired 
three  feux  de  joies,  and  were  then  dis- 
missed. ;..<?$ 

On  the  evening  following  that  of  the  election- 
day,  there  is  an  annual  ball  at  Hartford,  call- 
ed the  Election  Ball ;  and  on  the  succeeding 
Monday  a  second,  which  is  more  select.  The 
election-day  is  a  holiday  throughout  the  state  ; 
and  even  the  whole  remainder  of  the  week  is 
regarded  in  a  similar  light.  Servants  and  others 
are  now  in  some  measure  indemnified  for  the 
loss  of  the  festivals  of  Christmas,  Easter  and 
Whitsuntide,  which  the  principles  of  their  church 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  7 

deny  them.  Families  exchange  visits,  and  treat 
their  guests  with  slices  of  election-cake  ;  and  thus 
preserve  some  portion  of  the  luxuries  of  the 
forgotten  feast  of  the  Epiphany. 

The  whole  day,  like  the  morning,  and  like 
the  evening  which  preceded  it,  was  fine.  In 
Hartford,  the  degree  of  bustle  was  sufficient  to 
give  an  air  of  importance  to  the  scene  ;  a  scene, 
that  taken  altogether,  was  not  unfitted  to  leave 
on  the  mind  a  pleasing  and  respectful  impression. 

The  following  are  the  words  of  the  occa- 
sional hymn,  which,  as  I  have  said,  was  sung  : 

HAIL  happy  land  !  hail  happy  state  ! 
Whose  freeborn  sons  in  safety  meet, 

To  bless  the  Lord  Most  High  ! 
With  one  consent,  now  let  us  raise 
The  thankful  tribute  of  our  praise 

To  Him  who  rules  the  sky  ! 

The  mercies  he  to  us  hath  shown, 
The  wonders  he  for  us  hath  done, 

His  sovereign  hand  proclaim  ; 
Come,  and  with  grateful  hearts  adore 
The  God  who  saves  us  by  his  power, 

And  bless  aloud  his  name  ! 

Come,  let  us  kneel  before  his  face, 
Devoutly  supplicate  his  grace, 

And  his  high  aid  implore  ; 
That  He  our  nation,  state,  and  land, 

save  by  his  Almighty  Hand, 

Till  time  shall  be  no  more  ! 


CHAPTER  11. 

Connecticu  t —  Situation —  Towns — Counties . 

CONNECTICUT  is  a  maritime  country,  ly- 
ing in  the  forty-second  degree  of  north-latitude, 
along  the  margin  of  Long-Island  Sound.  In  a  di- 
rect line,  it  has  coast  of  a  hundred  miles  in  length; 
but  its  actual  sea-board  is  rendered  much  more 
considerable,  by  the  incurvatures  of  small  bays 
and  inlets.  On  the  east,  it  is  bounded  by  the 
territory  of  Rhode -Island;  on  the  west,  by  that 
of  New- York ;  and  on  the  north,  by  that  of  Mas- 
sachusetts. From  north  to  south,  that  is,  from 
the  frontier  of  Massachusetts  to  the  coast,  it  is 
nowhere  more  than  seventy-two  miles  in 
breadth,  and  for  the  most  part  much  less.  It  is 
said  to  contain  a  surface  of  four  thousand  six 
hundred  and  seventy-four  square  miles,  and  a 
population  of  nearly  two  hundred  and  sixty  thou- 
sand souls,  or  more  than  fifty  souls  to  each 
square  mile. 

The  country  is  divided  into  almost  two  equal 
parts,  by  the  river  from  which  it  derives  both  its 
name  and  a  great  part  of  its  resources.  This 
river  rises  in  Lower  Canada ;  and,  after  a  course 

1 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  9 

of  more  than  three  hundred  miles,  of  which  the 
general  direction  is  south,  enters  Connecticut  at 
about  seventy  miles  before  it  reaches  the  sea. 
It  is  navigable,  for  vessels  of  burden,  only  to 
Hartford.  . 

The  exports  of  Connecticut  are  carried  to  the 
West  India  Islands  either  directly  from  her  own 
ports,  or  by  reshipment  from  Boston  or  New 
York.  They  consist  chiefly  in  grain  and  other 
provisions,  and  in  horses  and  live  cattle. 

This  territory  is  parcelled  into  counties,  and 
the  counties  into  towns.  The  towns  are  the 
most  ancient  and  most  important  of  these  divi- 
sions. 

There  is  no  statute  or  other  public  instrument, 
in  Connecticut,  providing  for  the  establishment  of 
towns,  denning  the  nature  of  their  institution,  or 
the  materials  of  which  they  are  composed.  Their 
origin  may  therefore  be  said  to  be  prescriptive. 
The  very  earliest  laws  are  content  with  recogni- 
sing their  existence,  and  granting,  or  securing, 
their  immunities. 

Among  their  founders,  the  word  torvn  seems 
to  have  been  synonymous  with  settlement.  In 
Europe,  we  speak  of  settlements,  either  in  a 
more  general  sense  than  colonies,  or  as  included 
within  colonies.  The  French  call  them  habita- 
tions. These  terms  agree  entirely  with  the 

VOL  i.  B 


10 


TRAVELS  THROUGH 


towns  of  New  England.  Every  new  settlement 
was  called  a  new  town.  In  making  a  settle- 
ment, certain  limits  were  assigned,  or  assumed ; 
and  the  limits  of  the  settlement  were  said  to  be 
the  limits  of  the  town.  The  towiL-proper  was 
of  course  the  collection  of  dwellings;  but,  in  the 
vulgar  acceptation,  the  same  word  embraced  the 
entire  district  or  township,  and  use  has  given 
a  local  sanction  to  this  meaning. 

The  word  town,  appears  to  be  a  corruption  of 
the  Saxon  duno,  from  which  we  obtain  den,  dun, 
don,  and  down,  and  the  French,  dunes,  hills,  or 
heights.  In  all  countries,  whether  in  Europe  or 
America,  where  petty  nations  have  lived  in  the 
constant  fear  of  enemies,  their  dwellings  have  been 
seated  upon  hills,  as  situations  the  best  adapted  for 
defence.  Adding  artificial  means  of  security 
to  the  means  they  thus  borrowed  from  na- 
ture, tney  have  surrounded  those  dwellings,  ac- 
corcjing  to  their  manner  or  their  ability,  with  walls 
or  with  a  stockade.  But,  whether  fortified  by 
nature,  or  by  art,  these  places  of  dwelling  were 
essentially  places  of  strength — places  that  were 
fortified.  Hence,  a  hill,  and  hence  a  town,  was 
synonymous  with  a  fortified  place.  Hence,  a 
fortified  place,  wherever  situated,  was  called  a 
town.  But,  seas  and  rivers  have  in  all  ages  invi- 
ted men  to  their  respective  banks  and  shores,  in 
pursuit,  either  of  daily  subsistence,  or  of  the 


OF  TllF.   I'XriFl)  MATES.  Jj 

wealth,  to  be  derived  from  commerce.  But  the 
shores  are  often  flat,  and  even  marshy;  and 
yet  towns,  that  is,  hills  or  strong  places,  have 
been  built  in  such  situations.  It  was  incident  to 
every  collection  of  dwellings,  to  be  fortified,  to 
be  made  strong ;  and  therefore  it  was  said  to  be 
a  hill  or  town.  But  the  dwellings  were  fortified  by 
being  enclosed  ;  hence  the  Saxon  tun  ;  and  tun, 
from  tinan,  signifying  sft&T^OT  enclosed;  and 
hence  the  primitive  acceptation  in  English,  a 
walled  collection  of  houses. 

But,  the  consolidation  of  empires,  and  conse- 
quent progress  of  civilization,  in  Europe,  has  re- 
lieved many  regions  from  the  necessity  of  sur- 
rounding their  collections  of  houses  with  walls. 
Walls  have  been  razed  from  around  many 
collections  of  houses  where  they  were  former- 
ly necessary;  and  many  such  collections  have 
been  built,  where  no  such  precaution  has  ever 
been  resorted  to.  Still,  those  collections,  which 
were  formerly  walled,  have  retained  their  for- 
mer appellations;  and  still  those  which  are  dis- 
tinguished by  any  other  particular,  former!} 
incident  to  towns,  are  so  denominated. 

But,  it  was  in  an  express  manner  incident  to 
towns,  that  the  collection  of  houses,  of  which 
they  were  composed,  should  be  built  within 
the  smallest  convenient  compass.  Hence,  in 
towns,  the  buildings  for  the  most  part  joined 


12          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

each  other ;  and  hence  a  collection  of  houses,  join- 
ing, or  nearly  joining  each  other,  is  the  first  re- 
quisite in  the  definition  of  town,  though  the 
word  be  taken  in  the  loosest  sense  that  is  admis- 
sible in  Europe. 

In  New  England,  however,  a  town  is  very 
commonly  described  as  containing  two  or  three 
villages;  and  these  are  frequently  separated  from 
each  other  by  two  or  three  lakes,  and  two  or 
three  tracts  of  forest. — Thus,  we  began  with  the 
primitive  signification  of  the  word,  and  have 
now  reached  what  is  probably  at  present  the  fur- 
thest remove.  In  Virginia,  the  settlers  never 
used  this  term;  or  at  least  Sir  Walter  Raleigh 
avoids  it,  when  he  tells  us,  that  "  they  had  built 
"  houses,  planted  gardens,  erected  townships^ 
"  and  made  provision  for  their  posterity."* 

*  By  some,  town  is  regarded  as  a  contraction  of  town- 
ship ;  but  I  consider  it  as  the  original  term.  For  the  rest, 
it  is  but  by  a  few  readers  that  I  can  hope  to  be  pardoned 
this  digression  ;  and  such  will  not  perhaps  be  displeased 
at  seeing  it  extended  a  little  further. 

Towns  that  are  incorporated  are  now  called  boroughs  ;  but 
towns  were  fortified  at  an  earlier  date  than  they  were  in- 
corporated, and  fortification  was  more  essential  than  incor- 
poration. Borough  is  certainly  the  same  with  berg,  burg, 
and  burgh,  and  the  ancient  signification  of  these  is  a  for- 
tified eminence  :  The  burg  and  byrig  of  the  Saxons  is  the 
same  with  the  ITvfyo.-  or  tower  of  the  Greeks,  and  the 
bro  and  bar  of  the  Celts.  But,  bro  and  bar  are  the  same 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  ]^ 

A  town,  then,  in  Connecticut,  and  the  other 
parts  of  New  England,  is  first  a  district,  or  geo- 
graphical subdivision,  in  which  sense  is  the 

with  baris,  a  Greek  word,  signifying  a  stone  tower  or 
citadel,  whence  baris  and  birah,  among  the  Orientals, 
a  royal  citadel,  castle,  or  palace ;  and  of  baris,  the  primi- 
tive signification  appears  to  be  a  mountain. 

A  fortress  which  adjoined  the  temple  in  Jerusalem 
was  called  baris,  or  the  citadel.  This  word  is  said,  by  a 
learned  writer,  to  have  been  used  by  the  Jews,  only  of  a 
stone  tower,  or  fortification ;  but,  the  authority  which 
he  cites,  affords  a  larger  signification,  and  one  in  which 
there  is  a  remarkable  agreement  o-r  expression  with 
what  is  said  above,  of  the  origin  of  the  word  town  :  BAPIS 
verburn  'v7ri%aeiov  Palestine,  usque  hodie  domus  ex  omni 
flarte  conclusie,  et  in  modum  tedi/icatte  turrium,  ac  maniuni 
fiublicorum  $«.%&<;  afifiellantur.  HIERONYM.  EPIST.  CUIT. 
DE  NOM.  HEBK.  Saris  is  here  used  to  imply,  first, 
an  enclosed  or  fortified  residence,  of  which,  in  an- 
tiquity, the  usual  form  was  that  of  a  tower ;  and,  second- 
ly, the  walls  of  a  fortified  place. 

But,  with  the  Greeks,  the  signification  was  still  larger, 
and  baris  was  taken,  not  only  for  a  tower  or  any  great 
edifice,  but  also  for  a  s/ii/i.  That  the  same  word  which 
maybe  translated  shifi,  should  primarily  signify  a  mountain, 
may  at  a  first  view  be  little  probable ;  and  the  writer  allu- 
ded to  appears  to  consider  a  tower  or  fortification  as  the  pri- 
mary sense  of  bans,  whence  it  would  follow  thatAam  could 
signify  a  fortified  eminence,  not  because  it  is  an  eminence, 
but  only  because  it  \sfortified;  and  this  admitted,  he  would 
derive  baris  a  ship,  from  barin  a  stone  towe  r,  because  the  ark 
or  shift  of  Noah  rested  on  a  mountain,  and  because  there 


}4          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PAUL 

phrase,  "  the  inhabitants  of  towns  ;"  secondly,  it 
is  a  body  politic  and  corporate. 

is,  in  Imaus,  a  mountain,  called  by  Ptolemy,  Ai$*»o?  rit/pyo;, 
the  Stone  Tower.  Now,  a  stone  tower  is  rendered  by  ba- 
ris, and  the  mountain  on  which  the  ark  rested  is  called 
by  Josephus,  after  Nicolas  Damascenus,  "  BARIS,  near 
"  Minyas,  in  Armenia." 

There  is  certainly  here  some  show  of  evidence ;  and 
yet  I  cannot  but  think  it  preferable  to  derive  baris  a 
ship,  from  baris  a  tower  or  castle ;  this  from  baris  a 
fortified  eminence  ;  and  baris  a  fortified  eminence  from 
baris  a  mountain.  How  familiarly,  and  with  what  pro- 
priety, ships  are  denominated  castles,  need  not  to  be 
pointed  out. 

Of  Mount  Baris,  in  Armenia,  the  writer  remarks, 
that,  "  no  geographer  mentions  such  a  mountain,  in  his 
"  description  of  that  country ;"  and  this  circumstance 
he  appears  to  consider  as  supporting  his  conjecture,  that 
the  ark  actually  rested  on  the  mountain  called  by  Ptole- 
my the  Stone  Tower,  At&voj  Hv'pyog  being  a  periphrasis  or 
interpretation  of  Bapjj.  That  a  mountain  came  to  be  call- 
ed the  Stone  Tower,  he  supposes  to  have  happened 
from  its  figure ;  and  in  this  we  may  entirely  agree  with 
him,  without  ceasing,  however,  to  believe,  that  a  stone 
tower  was  called  baris,  from  baris  a  mountain ;  that  is, 
that  baris,  the  noun  proper,  may  have  had  its  derivation 
from  baris,  the  noun  common. 

From  the  fact,  that  no  geographer  mentions  Mount 
Baris,  a  conclusion,  very  different  from  that  given  above, 
may,  with  equal  force  of  argument  be  deduced ;  for  we 
shall  be  guilty  of  no  violence,  if  we  suppose  that  the  Ba- 
ris of  Josephus,  is  a  common  and  not  a  proper  name  or 
noun;  a  mountain,  any  mountain,  or  perhaps,  a  high  moun- 
tain ;  and  not  a  particular  mountain,  called,  for  whatever 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  j<j 

As  to  its  geographical  extent,  a  town  usually 
comprehends  thirty-six  square  miles ;  but  some 
towns  are  within  these  dimensions,  and  many 
much  exceed  them.  The  boundaries  are  usually 
determined,  or  in  the  technical  phrase,  the 
lines  run,  by  a  land-surveyor.  Natural  boun- 
daries, such  as  small  rivers,  brooks  or  moun- 
tains, are  rarely  admitted.  As  population 
increases  in  the  towns,  as  interests  separate, 
as  feuds  arise,  or  as  intrigues  are  to  be  ma- 
naged, their  territories  experience  frequent  sub- 
divisions, under  the  authority  of  acts  of  the 
general  assembly.  Sometimes,  one  town  is  se- 
vered into  two  ;  and  sometimes  a  new  one  is 
formed  in  the  heart  of  several  others,  uniting  in 

reason,  the  Stone  Tower.  "  All  accounts  of  the  great  de- 
"  luge,"  says  the  writer,  "  agree  in  this,  that  the  ark  or 
u  ship  landed  on  a  high  mountain ;"  to  which  accounts, 
the  authority,  misunderstood  by  Josephus,  or  by  Nicolas 
Damascenus,  or  by  writers  earlier  than  either,  may  only 
entitle  us  to  add,  that  the  high  mountain  (barii)  was 
situate  "  near  Minyas,  in  Armenia."  See  Some  Inquiries 
concerning  the  First  Inhabitants,  Language,  Religion, 
Learning  and  Letters  of  Eurofie.  Oxford,  1758. 

Further,  and  in  confirmation  of  what  has  been  advanced, 
as  well  in  this  note  as  in  the  text,  may  be  noticed  the  ac- 
knowledged agreement  in  signification,  of  the  Saxon  duno 
with  the  Greek  <JW\«s.  Aw«$  is  said  to  be  from  /3«»«5;  and 
£sv««  appears  to  lead  us  to  6*^?,  /3««?,  bar,  bro-,  borough, 
We; 


j(}  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

itself  parts  of  each.  The  present  number  of  towns 
is  one  hundred  and  seventeen. 

The  modern  towns  (I  mean  the  incorpora- 
tions) may  be  said  to  be 'erected  by  the  general 
assembly ;  but  the  more  ancient  ones  appear  to 
have  been  erected  by- those  who  composed 
them.  A  part,  at  least,  of  their  immunities  on 
the  Connecticut,  were  acknowledged  in  1636, 
in  the  commission  issued  by  Massachusetts,  to 
which  colony  they  were  then  subject ;  and  were 
declared,  and  perhaps  extended,  by  statute,  in 
1639. 

1.  The  towns,  in  town-meeting,  elect  their  own 
town-officers,  and  may  recover  a  fine  on  refusal 
to  serve;*  but,   "  any  one  assistant,  or  justice," 
ma)"  set  aside  the  election,  at  his  discretion,  on 
the  appeal  of  the  party  elected. 

2.  The  towns  have  power  to  make   such  or- 
ders,  rules  and  constitutions,   as  concern  their 
own  welfare,  provided  that  these  orders,  rules 
or  constitutions,   are  "  not  of  a  criminal,   but 
"  only  of  a  prudential   nature  ;"  that  they  be 
not  repugnant  to  the  laws  and  orders  of  the 
state  ;  and  that  no  penalty,  inflicted  for  any  one 
act  of  non-observance,  exceed  the  sum  of  three 
dollars  and  thirty-four  cents. 

*  Of  the  amount  of  five  dollars. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  -\~t 

3.  Towns  may  make  by-laws,  for  restraining 
horses,  cattle,  &c.  provided  they  impose  no  penal- 
ty exceeding  the  amount  of  three  dollars  ;  and  no 
such  law  is  to  be  in  force  till  it  shall  have  been 
published  for  four  weeks  successively   in  the 
newspaper  which  is  printed  in  or  nearest  to  the 
town. 

4.  Precincts  or  peculiars  are   in  some 'cases 
ordered  to  be  rated  at  or  in  certain  towns,  and 
in  such  cases  are  rated  and  governed  by  the 
town. 

5.  Towns    have    authority    to    discriminate 
between    the\  inhabitants    that    they    will   ad- 
mit,   and  the  inhabitants   that    they    will  not. 
Hence,    there    is    a   distinction    between   set- 
tled, approved  and  lawful  inhabitants,  and  the 
contrary.     Those  strangers  whom  they  disap- 
prove they  may    warn  to  quit  the    town,  and 
in  case  of  need,   compel.     The  origin  of  this 
right  will    be   more   distinctly  seen    hereafter. 
Over  the  natural  and  lawful  inhabitants  the}'  ex- 
ercise many  powers. 

6.  What  may  be  considered  as   among  the 
highest  prerogatives  of  the  towns,  it  is  in  their 
hands  to  grant  and  withhold  the  freedom  of  the 
state,  even  to  and  from  natural-bom  subjects. 

7.  But,  it  is  chiefly  on  account  of  their  share  in 
the  public  councils  that  I  have  entered  thus 
early  into  the  political  history  of  the  towns.     It 

VOL.  i.  c 


18          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

will  be  seen,  that  they  could  by  no  means 
be  omitted  in  the  preliminary  view,  which  1 
have  proposed  to  myself  to  take,  of  the  govern- 
ment and  the  legislature,  and  of  the  elections. 

Each  town  is  represented  in  the  general  as- 
sembly, by  two  or  at  least  one  representative. 
The  old  towns  may  in  anj"  case  send  two  or  one 
at  their  option  ;  but  some  of  the  new  towns  are 
restricted  to  one,  unless  in  cases  where  their  lists 
respectively  "  amount  to  sixty  thousand  dollars, 
"  without  fraud." 

"  Justices  of  the  peace,"  says  a  native  lawyer, 
"  are  considered  as  the  civil  authority  of  the 
u  town  in  which  they  dwell,  and  have  exten- 
"  sive  power  in  directing  and  advising  about  the 
"  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  town."* 
Another  writer,  combining  with  this  account  the 
circumstance  that  justices  of  the  peace  are  ap- 
pointed by  the  general  assembly,  infers,  that  the 
extensive  power,  here  described  as  invested,  is  an 
expedient  for  maintaining  the  general  order  of 
the  state,  f  In  the  provisions  of  the  statutes  I 
cannot  discern  this  power.  The  phrase  civil 
authority  is  obviously  loose  and  popular ;  for 
the  selectmen  compose  the  real  civil  authority. 

*  Swift's  System  of  the  Laws  of  the  State  of  Connecti- 
cut, 1795. 

t  A  Specimen  of  Republican  Institutions,  Philadelphia, 
1802. 


OF  TH£  UNITED  STATES  p, 

In  the  statutes,  it  is  found,  along  with  man) 
other  loose  and  popular  phrases,  in  the  sense  of 
justices  of  the  peace ;  but,  the  editors  of  the  late 
edition  have  refused  to  it  a  place  in  their  index. 
The  justices  of  the  peace,  as  lawful  and  even 
principal  inhabitants,  have  unquestionably  much 
power  and  influence  ;  and  the  statutes  occa- 
sionally join  them  with  the  selectmen,  in  the 
exercise  of  magisterial  duties.  This  appears  to 
me  to  be  the  whole. 

II.  It  has  been  said  above,  that  the  counties  are 
divided  into  towns;  but,  there  may  be  more  pro- 
priety in  the  expression,  that  the  towns  are  united 
into  counties.  The  towns  were  in  existence 
before  the  counties,  of  which  latter  the  first  es- 
tablishment was  in  the  year  1665.  After  that 
period  there  were  four,  and  there  are  now  eight. 
This  number  was  completed  in  1785. 

The  counties  send  no  representatives  to  the 
assembly,  but  are  shires  or  circuits  for  the 
administration  of  justice;  and  can  be  repre- 
sented as  communities  only  as  they  respective- 
ly possess  a  magistracy,  competent,  under  certain 
limitations,  to  hear  and  determine  pleas,  civil, 
criminal  and  equitable;  and  also,  for  county-pur- 
poses, to  levy  county-taxes.  Each  county  has 
a  sheriff,  with  the  fullest  powers. 


: 

frjtofr  ($'"•'  • 

• 

CHAPTER  III. 

. 

Connecticut — Government. 

THE  government  of  Connecticut  is  a  de- 
mocracy, of  a  peculiar  form  and  structure. 

"  The  supreme  power  and  authority  of  the 
"  state,"  says  the  assembly  itself,  "  consists  in  the 
"  general  assembly."  The  general  assembly  is 
composed  of  two  houses  or  chambers,  of  which 
the  lower  is  filled  by  the  representatives  or  depu- 
ties of  the  towns,  and  the  upper  by  the  governor, 
lieutenant- go venior  and  assistants. 

The  supreme  powrer  and  authority  is  therefore 
in  the  hands  of  a  council  of  two  hundred;  for 
of  about  this  number  of  persons  is  the  entire  as- 
sembly composed.  To  each  division,  however, 
belongs,  in  some  instances,  peculiar  functions; 
and  of  these  a  small  proportion  falls  to  the  lot 
of  the  governor. 

1.  The  governor  is  by  statute  president  of  the 
upper  house  of  assembly  ;  but  he  has  no  voice  in 
its   decisions,  unless  the    votes   happen  to  be 
equally  divided. 

2.  Upon  fourteen  days'  warning  or  less,  he 
may  convene  the  general  assembly  at  unusual 
times,  and  at  unusual  places,  within  the  state. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  21 

us  he  shall  judge  proper;  but  he  can  in  no  case 
prorogue  or  adjourn  it  against  its  consent. 

3.  He  may  reprieve  a  condemned  malefactor, 
till  the  next  meeting  of  the   general  assembly; 
but  he  can  grant  no  pardon. 

4.  He   is  ex   offjcio  a  justice    of  the  peace 
throughout  the  state. 

5.  He  is  captain-general  and  commander  in 
chief  of  the  militia  of  the  state;  but  he  com- 
missions only,  and  not  appoints  the  inferior  offi- 
cers. 

6.  He   is    superintendent  of  marine;  and  all 
marine  papers,  under  the  authority  of  the  state, 
issue  in  his  name. 

7.  From  the  year  1793,  to  the  present,  the  go- 
vernor has  had  a  further  duty  to  perform,  that  of 
sitting,  twice  in  each  year,  as  president  of  the 
court  of  errors;  but,  an  act,  passed  in  the  last 
year,  relieves  him  from  this  duty  for  the  future. 

8.  By  and  with  the  advice  of  the  council,  he 
may  prohibit  the  carriage,  by  land  or  water,  of 
any  article  or  thing,  out  of  the  state. 

The  lieutenant-governor  is  also  lieutenant-ge- 
neral of  the  militia  for  the  governor.  He  acts  in 
his  absence,  and  in  his  presence  has  a  voice  in  the 
council,  along  with  the  assistants. 

II.  Other  powers  are  incident  to  the  governor 
and  council,  in  their  joint  capacity  ;  insomuch 
that  this  body  may  be  regarded  as  a  second  branch 


•22  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

of  government.  It  alone  can  authorise  the  reading 
of  briefs;  it  appoints  the  quarter-master-general, 
and  the  eight  high  sheriffs. 

III.  The  council  is  composed  of  the  governor, 
lieutenant-governor  and  assistants.  The  assist- 
ants are  twelve  in  number,  and  their  office  is 
scarcely  less  considerable  than  that  of  the  gover- 
nor. 

1.  In  conjunction  with  the  governor  and  lieu- 
tenant- go vemor,  they  constitute  one  estate    or 
branch  of  the  legislature,  and  can  decide  all  le- 
gislative questions    which   come  before  them, 
even  against  the  will,  advice  or   consent  of  the 
governor. 

2.  They  are  ex  officio  justices  of  the  peace 
throughout  the  state. 

3.  Any  three  assistants  may  execute  a  power 
similar  to  that  granted  to  the  governor,  of  re- 
prieving a  condemned  malefactor  till  the  next 
general  assembly. 

4.  An  assistant  may  supply  the  place  of  an 
absent  judge  of  the  superior  court. — At  the  first 
settlement  of  Connecticut,  and  for  many  years 
after,  almost  every  magisterial  duty  was  assign- 
ed   indiscriminately  to  the  assistants.     By  the 
older  laws,  an  assistant  was  allowed  the   sin- 
gular privilege,  of  forbidding   the  entrance  of 
more  persons  than  he  judged  convenient,  into 
the  same  ferry-boat  with  himself. 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES.  23 

IV.  The  fourth  branch  of  government  is  the 
general  assembly,  from  which,  indeed,  all  other 
authority  proceeds,  and  by  which,  at  any  mo- 
ment, it  may  be  reclaimed.  Nothing  exists 
but  at  its  pleasure.  It  makes  laws,  and  it  re- 
peals them;  and  in  the  laws  is  the  sole  founda- 
tion of  the  political  fabric  :  the  constitution  of 
government  is  to  be  found  only  in  the  statutes. 
In  a  word,  the  general  assembly  is  truly  the  sin- 
gle depository  of  power;  of  power  at  once  go- 
vernmental, legislative  and  judiciary;  at  once 
civil,  military  and  ecclesiastical. 

1.  The  general  assembly  is  the  sole  legisla- 
tive authority. 

2.  It  grants  levies. 

3.  It  disposes  of  lands  undisposed  of,  to  towns 
or  to  particular  persons. 

4.  It  erects  courts  of  justice,  and  appoints 
judges  and  other  officers  as  it  sees  necessary. 

5.  It  censures,  punishes  and  removes  at    its 
pleasure,  all  those  officers  and  judges;  and  all 
magistrates  whom  it  accuses  of  any  misdemean- 
our or  malversation. 

6.  It  acts  in  particular   cases  as  a  court  of 
equity,  staying  the  proceedings  of  courts  of  law, 
and  even  exempting  by  particular  acts  particu- 
lar individuals  from  civil  process;  the  right  to 
do(  all  which  is,  among  others,  reserved  to  it  in 
the  words,  "  and  also  may  deal  and  act  in  any 


24         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  fcc. 

"  other  matter  that  concerns  the  good  of  this 


" 


7.  It,  and  it  only,  has  power  to  grant  pardons, 
suspensions,    and  gaol-delivery  upon  reprieve, 
to  any  person  or  persons  that  have  been  senten- 
ced in  any  court  of  the  state  whatever. 

8.  It  cannot  be  dissolved,  nor  prorogued,  but 
with  the  consent  of  a  majority  of  its  members. 

9.  It  imposes  fines  upon  such  of  its  members 
as  reveal  what  it  orders  to  be  kept  secret,  "  or 
"  shall  make  known  to  any  person  what  any  one 
"  member  of  the  court  speaks  concerning  any 
"  person  or  business  that  may  come  in  agitation 
"  in  the  court."* 

10.  It  is  of  minor  importance  that  the  mem- 
bers   of  the  general   assembly    are    privileged 
against  arrest  in  civil  suits,  after  the  model  of 
the  privilege  of  parliament  in  England;  and  that 
a  seat  is  vacated  by  a  member's  appearing  at  the 
bar  of  the  assembly,  as  an  attorney,  to  conduct 
a  suit  at  law,  unless  in  behalf  of  the  town  which 
he  represents,  or  in  cases  where  either  himself 
or  his  kindred  are  personally  interested. 

";  •  '•'•>•     "•  r-ftr  *Br"Ji  .'8 

*  Though  this  latter  clause  is  made  applicable  to  all 
the  members  of  the  general  court,  it  is  perhaps  intend- 
ed only  for  the  government  of  the  upper  house,  of  which 
the  doors  are  always  closed.  From  a  note  in  the  Statutes 
of  Connecticut,  it  appears  to  have  been  enacted  in  1  639, 
and  copied  nearly  verbatim,  at  the  revision  in  1702. 

1 


CHAPTER  IV. 

(Connecticut — Legislature. 

FROM  what  has  appeared  in  the  preceding 
chapter,  the  reader  is  prepared  to  behold  the 
same  object,  the  general  assembly,  again  pre- 
sented to  his  view:  "  In  which  general  assembly 
"  shall  consist  the  supreme  power  and  authority 
"  of  this  state ;  and  they  only  shall  have  power  to 
"  make  laws,  and  to  repeal  them." 

Every  statute  of  Connecticut  is  described  as 
being  "  enacted  by  the  governor,  council,  and 
"  house  of  representatives,  in  general  court  as- 
"  sembled;"  but  the  words  court  and  assembly  are 
used  indifferently,  and  almost  alternately,  in  the 
place  of  each  other :  thus  where  a  marginal  note 
promises  a  view  of  all  the  powers  "  of  the  gene- 
"  ral  assembly"  the  text  mentions  only  the  gene- 
ral court.  The  origin  of  this  confusion  of  terms 
will  appear  hereafter ;  as  also  of  the  name  of 
court  of  election,  now  apparently  obsolete.  The 
language  in  which  the  legislative  powers  of  the 
assembly  are  expressed,  has  scarcely  been  va- 
ried from  the  beginning:  "  In  which  general 
"  court  shall  consist  the  supreme  power  and 

VOL  i.  n 


26  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  fcc 

".authority  of  this  state;  and  they  only  shall 
"  have  power  to  make  laws  and  repeal  them; 
"  to  grant  levies;  to  dispose  of  lands  undis- 
"  posed  of  to  towns  or  particular  persons; 
"  and  also  to  institute  and  style  judicatories  and 
"  officers,  as  they  shall  see  necessary  for  the  good 
"  government  of  this  state.  Also,  to  call  any 
"  court  or  magistrate,  or  any  other  officer  or 
"  person  whatever,  to  an  account  for  any  misde- 
"  meaner  or  male  administration;  and  for  just 
"  cause  may  fine,  displace  or  remove  them  ; 
"  or  deal  otherwise,  as  the  nature  of  the  cause 
"  shall  require  ;  and  also  may  deal  and  act  in 
"  any  other  matter  that  concerns  the  good  of 
"  this  state,  except  the  election  of  governor, 
"  lieutenant-governor,  assistants  or  counsellors  ; 
"  which  shall  be  done  by  the  votes  of  the  free- 
"  men,  at  the  yearly  court  of  election."  • 


CHAPTER  V. 

Connecticut — Mode  of  Election. 

EVERY  public  trust  and  office  in  Connecti- 
cut is  elective.  Selectmen  and  others  are  elected 
by  their  towns  ;  schoolmasters  and  mistresses 
by  the  same  ;  ministers  of  churches  by  the 
churches  ;  the  inferior  officers  of  militia  by  the 
privates,  and  the  superior  by  the  assembly  ;  the 
judges  of  all  the  courts  by  the  assembly  ; 
the  electors  of  the  president  and  vice-president 
of  the  United  States  by  the  same  ;  the  lower 
house  of  assembly  by  the  towns  separately  ;  and 
the  upper,  together  with  the  representatives  of 
the  state  in  congress,  by  the  towns  collectively. 
No  office  within  the  state  is  held  for  more  than 
a  year  ;  and  the  deputies  of  the  towns  are  elected 
for  only  one  session  of  the  assembly.  There 
are  two  sessions  of  the  assembly  in  each  year ; 
and  consequently  as  many  elections  cf  depu- 
ties. 

The  deputies  are  now  frequently  denomina- 
ted representatives.  They  were  anciently  called 
committee-men  ;  each  town  being  said  to  send 
a  committee  or  deputation  to  the  legislature. 


28  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

At  present,  representative  appears  to  be  the 
term  in  favour  ;  while  deputy  holds  in  some 
degree  its  ground,  through  prior  title. 

The  deputies  or  representatives,  for  the  ses- 
sion which  is  held  in  October,  are  chosen  on  the 
third  Monday  of  September  next  preceding  ; 
and  those  for  the  session  in  May,  on  the  first 
Tuesday  in  April  preceding.  They  are  always 
chosen  in  town-meeting,  "  held  at  nine  o'clock 
"  in  the  morning,  at  some  convenient  place, 
"  where  the  meetings  have  usually  been  held." 

Respecting  the  election  of  representatives  in 
the  assembly,  the  statutes  afford  few  rules,  ex- 
cept the  foregoing,  and  that  of  the  governor  is 
surrounded  with  but  few  forms  ;  but  the  election 
of  assistants,  and  of  representatives  in  congress, 
has  been  the  object  of  extraordinarv  legislative 

J  V  O 

care,  and  is  conducted  on  a  system  in  many 
respects  remarkable.  Amid  that  bitterness  of 
party  which  prevails  in  Connecticut,  this  system, 
at  least  with  one  side,  is  a  constant  theme  of 
exultation.  The  wisdom  of  the  design,  and  the 
real  blessings  of  which  it  is  the  parent,  are  in- 
sisted upon  with  equal  warmth. 

That  we  may  duly  appreciate  these  preten- 
sions, it  will  be  proper  to  examine  them  with 
care  ;  an  examination,  the  pains  of  which  we 
shall  not  regret,  when  we  afterward  listen  to  the 
loud  enqomiums  they  excite. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  £9 

1.  The  constables  in  the  several  towns  arc 
required  to  summon,  or  as  it  is  said,  to  "  warn 
•'  all  the  freemen  in  their  respective  towns  to 
"  meet  together  yearly,  on  the  third  Monday  of 
"  September,  at  nine  of  the  clock  in  the  morn- 
"  ing,  at  some  convenient  place,  where  their 
"  meetings  have  usually  been  held,  when  and 
"  where  they  shall  first  choose  deputies  or  re- 
"  presentatives  to  attend  the  general  court  in 
"  October,  then  next  ensuing  ;  and  then  every 
"  freeman,  in  eachtown,  there  present,  shall  give 
"  in  his  vote  or  suffrage  for  twenty  persons, 
u  their  names  being  fairly  written  on  a  piece  of 
"  paper,  whom  he  judgeth  qualified  to  stand  in 
"  nomination  for  election  in  the  month  of  May 
"  next  following  :  which  votes  or  suffrages  shall 
"  be  delivered  to  an  assistant,  or  justice  of  the 
"  peace,  (if  any  be  present,)  otherwise  to  such 
"  constable  as  shall  inhabit  in  the  town  where 
"  such  votes  are  given  in  ;  which  assistant,  jus- 
"  tice,  or  constable,  shall  make  entry  of  the 
"  names  of  all  such  persons  as  the  freemen  do 
"  vote  for,  with  the  number  of  votes  that  each 
"  person  hath  ;  a  copy  whereof  the  said  assist- 
"  ant,  justice,  or  constable,  in  each  town,  shall 
"  send  sealed  up,  to  the  general  assembly  in  Oc- 
"  tober  next  following,  by  the  deputy  or  repre- 
*'  sentativesof  such  town. 


30          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  At  which  assembly,  all  the  votes  of  the  free- 
"  men  of  this  state  shall  be  compared,  and  those 
"  twenty  persons  who  shall  have  the  greatest 
"  number  of  votes  shall  be  the  persons  whose 
"  names  shall  be  returned  to  the  several  towns 
"  to  be  the  persons  nominated  to  stand  for  elec- 
"  tion  in  May  next  following ;  out  of  which 
"  number  the  twelve  assistants  shall  be  chosen. 
"  But,  the  freemen  shall  have  liberty  to  choose 
"  the  governor  and  lieutenant-governor,  where 
"  they  see  cause,  of  all  or  any  freemen  within 
"t this  state." 

2.  "  The  secretary  of  the  state,  for  the  time 
"  being,  shall,  with  the  acts  and  orders  of  the 
"  general  court  in  October,  yearly,  send  a  copy 
"  of  the  names  of  all  those  persons  who  are  no- 
"  minated  as  aforesaid,  to  stand  for  election  as 
"  aforesaid,  to  the  printer,  in  order  that  the  said 
"  persons'  names  may,  with  the  said  acts,  be  dis- 
"  tributed  to  the  several  towns  in  this  state. 

3.  "  And  the  several  constables  in  the  respec- 
"  tive  towns  throughout  this  state,  without  fur- 
"  ther  order,  on  the  penalty  aforesaid,  shall,  by 
"  themselves  or  some  deputed  by  them,  warn  all 
"  the  freemen  in  their  respective  towns  to  con- 
"  vene  at  the  place  where  such  meetings  are 
"  usually  held,  on  the  Monday  next  following 
"  the  first  Tuesday  in  April  annually,  at  nine  of 
"  the  clock  in  the  morning ;  when  and  where 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  3} 

"  they  shall  first  choose  deputies  to  attend  the 
"  general  court  in  May  next  following ;  where 
"  also  shall  be  read  to  them  the  freemen's  oath, 
"  the  three  last  paragraphs  of  this  act,*  and  the 
"  names  of  those  persons  nominated  to  stand  for 
"  election  :  and  then  the  freemen  shall  proceed 
"  to  bring  in  to  the  civil  authority,  (or  if  none 
"  be  present,  to  the  constable  or  constables  pre- 
"  sent,)  the  name  of  him  whom  they  would  have 
"  for  governor  for  the  year  ensuing,  fairly  written 
"  upon  a  piece  of  paper,  which  the  said  authori- 
"  ty,  or  constable  or  constables,  shall  receive, 
"  and  in  the  presence  of  the  freemen,  seal  up 
"  the  same  in  a  piece  of  paper,  and  write  on  the 
"  outside  of  the  paper  so  sealed,  the  name  of  the 
"  town,  and  then  add  these  words,  viz.  Votes 
"for  the  governor.  In  like  manner  they  shall 
"  proceed  in  bringing  in,  sealing  up,  and  wri- 
"  ting  upon  their  votes  for  the  lieutenant-go- 
"  vernor,.  treasurer  and  secretary.  But,  before 
"  the  treasurer  and  secretary  are  voted  for,  the 
"  freemen  shall  bring  in  their  votes  for  those 
"  nominated  to  stand  for  election,  beginning 
"  with  him  that  stands  first  in  the  nomination, 

*  These  relate  to  bribery  and  undue  influence,  which 
latter  crime  is  defined,  by  another  statute,  as  consisting 
in  the  gratuitous  distribution  of  spirituous  liquors.  Title 
LV.  Chap.  iii.  By  paragraphs  is  intended  sections  or 
clauses. 


32          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  and  bring  in  their  votes  for  him ;  which,  by 
u  the  said  authority,  or  constable  or  constables, 
"  shall  be  received,  sealed  up,  and  written  upon 
"  as  aforesaid,  inserting  the  name  of  the  person 
"  voted  for ;  and  so  they  shall  proceed  till 
"  they  have  passed  through  the  whole  nomina- 
"  tion.  But,  no  one  freeman  shall  vote  for  more 
"  than  twelve  of  the  number  in  nomination  to  be 
"  assistants.  And  the  votes  for  election  of  as- 
"  sistants  shall  be  a  written  piece  of  paper  ;  and 
"  no  unwritten  piece  of  paper  shall  be  given  in." 

4.  The   written   votes    or    ballots,     which, 
through  a   mistake    or  else   abuse  of    terms, 
the  statutes  occasionally  call  proxies,  are  then 
sent  to  Hartford,  in  the  care  of  one  of  the  re- 
presentatives, who  delivers  them  to  the  secretary 
of  state.     The  secretary  of  state  transfers  them 
to  the  committee  of  the  general  assembly,  by 
which  they  are  appointed  to  be  counted.* 

5.  There  is  a  fifth  particular,  dependent  rather 
on  usage  than  on  law,  for  an  exposition  of  which 
we  must  apply  to  a  private  pen.     It  appears, 
that  at  the  general  assembly  in  October,  where 
a  list  is  made  of  twenty  persons  to  stand  in  no- 
mination, special  regard  is  had  to  the  manner  of 
framing  the  list :     "  In  arranging  the  twenty 

*  See  Statutes  of  Connecticut,   Hartford,  1808.     Ti- 
tle LV. 

1 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  33 

u  names,  those  persons  who  have  previously  bc- 
"  longed  to  the  council  are  placed  according  to 
"  their  official  age,  without  any  regard  to  the 
"  number  of  votes  which  each  individual  may 
"  have  ;  the  others,  who  have  never  been  mem- 
"  bers  of  the  council,  are  placed  according  to 
"  the  number  of  their  votes.  The  nomination, 
"  thus  made  out,  is  forwarded  to  the  various 
"  towns.  At  the  freemen's  meeting  in  April, 
"  after  the  choice  of  representatives  to  the  legis- 
"  lature,  and  after  the  votes  are  given  in  for  the 
"  governor,  the  presiding  magistrate  calls  for 
"  the  votes  for  the  assistants-  The  mode  is, 
"  first,  to  call  upon  the  freemen  for  their  votes 
"  for  the  first  man  in  the  nomination,  and  then  to 
"  take  them  in  their  order.  Each  freeman  has 
"  a  right  to  vote  for  twelve  out  of  the  twenty. 
"  The  mode  of  voting  almost  certainly  secures 
"  the  election  of  the  first  twelve."* — Of  these  in- 
stitutions there  are  warm  admirers.  "  The  mode 
"  of  appointing  the  governor,  and  lieutenant - 
"  governor,  by  annual  suffrage,  has  already," 
says  one  of  these,  "  been  mentioned.  In  this 

*  An  Oration  delivered  at  Newhaven,  on  the  7th  of 
July,  A.  D.  1801,  before  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati 
for  the  State  of  Connecticut,  assembled  to  celebrate  the 
Anniversary  of  American  Independence.  By  Theodore 
Dwight.  Hartford,  1801. 

VOL.  I.  E 


34          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

u  there  is  nothing  which  promises  the  requisite 
11  portion  of  legislative  stability. 

"  Such  stability,  therefore,  must  be  an  object 
"  of  high  consequence,  as  it  respects  the  twelve 
"  members  called  assistants.  Yet  these  are  all 
u  elected  annually,  by  general  suffrage.  This,  if 
"  viewed  superficially,  may  seem  so  irrecon- 
:'  cilable  with  senatorial  stability,  as  to  excite  a 
"  momentary  doubt  respecting  the  peculiar 
"  steadiness  which  has  been  said  to  distinguish 
"  the  state.  At  the  same  time,  the  existence  of 
"  such  steadiness  is  a  historical  fact,  established 
"  by  unquestionable  testimony.  What  then  is 
"  the  true  solution  of  this  political  paradox  ? 

"  According  to  known  principles  of  human 
"  action,  the  fact  of  peculiar  steadiness  ma}^  be 
k'  pronounced  impossible,  unless  there  be  some 
"  peculiarity  in  the  electing  of  these  twelve 
"  members  of  the  senatorial  council.  It  is  with 
"  reference  to  this  that  we  are  informed,  *  The 
"  '  mode  is  calculated  to  prevent  any  change  by 
"  '  the  influence  of  sudden  whim  or  caprice.' 
"  What  mode,  however,  can  assure  this  result 
"  amidst  annual  elections  ?  In  the  process  there 
"  are  several  things  to  be  observed. 

"  The  first  is  a  legal  nomination  of  candidates. 
"  At  the  electoral  meetings,  annually  holden  in 
"  September,  each  of  the  enrolled  electors  may 
"  '  give  his  suffrage  for  twenty  persons,  whom 


OF  THK  UNITED  STATES.  35 

"  *  he  judgeth  qualified  to  stand  in  nomination 
"  '  for  election.'  The  presiding  authority,  in 
"  each  town,  makes  *  entry  of  the  names  of  the 
"  '  persons  voted  for,  with  the  number  of  votes  ; ' 
"  and  is  to  send  an  authentic  statement  of  them, 
"  '  sealed  up,  to  the  general  assembly  in  Octo- 
"  '  ber  next  following.'  The  respective  votes 
"  are  then  to  be  examined ;  and  '  the  twenty 
"  '  persons  who  have  the  greatest  number  of 
"  '  votes,  shall  be  the  persons  in  nomination." 
"  Under  the  direction  of  the  general  assembly, 
"  the  names  are  seasonably  made  known,  in 
"  proper  form,  to  the  various  towns  throughout 
"  the  state.  And  it  is  from  this  list  of  candi- 
"  dates  that  the  choice  is  ultimately  to  be 
"  made. 

"  Such  a  procedure,  doubtless,  tends  to  con- 
"  centrate  opinions  as  to  the  proper  objects  of 
"  suffrage.  In  giving  range,  too,  for  the  selec- 
"  tion  of  character,  it  favours  the  principle  of 
"  inviting,  into  the  senatorial  council,  such  per- 
"  sons  as  are  distinguished  by  the  solidity  of 
"  moral  qualities. 

"  It  is  equally  obvious,  that  each  of  the  per- 
"  sons  who  may  be  elected,  must  have  been  an 
"  object  of  public  attention  for  a  considerable 
"  period.  This  is  important,  as  having  a  ten- 
"  dency  to  exclude  intriguers  from  the  senatorial 
"  dignity. 


3(j  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  You  observe  how  this  part  of  the  system  is 
"  adapted  for  introducing  none  but  men  of  dis- 
"  tinguished  worth  into  the  senatorial  body;  yet, 
"  we  must  agree,  it  does  not  appear  adequate  to 
"  assure  another  object  of  no  inconsiderable  con- 
"  sequence,  the  .firmness  of  political  situation. 
"  For  this,  the  means  are  to  be  sought  in  other 
"  political  forms. 

"  The  ultimate  choice  is  completed  in  the 
"  spring  of  each  year,  by  electing  twelve  persons 
"  out  of  the  twenty  who  have  been  nominated 
"  as  candidates,  in  the  preceding  autumn.  At 
"  the  electoral  meetings,  in  April,  the  name  of 
"  each  of  the  twenty  candidates  is  separately 
"  proposed  for  suffrage  ;  and  thereupon  an  elector 
"  is  at  his  option,  either  to  give  his  suffrage  in 
"  favour  of  the  candidate,  by  delivering  any 
"  written  paper,  or  to  refuse  such  suffrage,  and 
"  yet,  perhaps,  conceal  the  refusal,  by  delivering 
"  a  paper  in  blank. 

"  In  this  proceeding  it  is  the  legal  course  to 
"  '  begin  with  the  person  who  stands  first  in  the 
"  '  nomination,'  and  then  pursue  the  order  in 
"  which  the  names  are  placed  on  the  list,  and 
"  so  proceed  through  the  whole. 

"  The  presiding  authority,  upon  receiving 
"  them,  takes  care  to  inclose  the  votes  for  each 
"  candidate  in  a  distinct  cover,  under  seal,  on 
"  which  is  written  the  name  of  the  person  voted 


OP  TIIE  UNITED  STATES.  37 

"  for.  The  respective  votes  given  in  each 
•"  town,  for  the  several  candidates,  being  thus 
"  inclosed  and  placed  under  seal,  are  to  be 
"  transmitted  to  the  general  assembly,  holden 
"  in  May,  there  to  be  opened  and  examined. 
"  '  The  twelve  persons  who  shall  have  the 
"  '  greatest  number  of  votes,  shall  be  declared 
"  *  to  be  elected  assistants  for  the  ensuing  year.' 

"  In  this  election  of  twelve  persons  from 
"  among  twenty  candidates,  the  probability  is, 
"  that  a  plurality*  of  votes  would  usually  be 
"  given  for  the  twelve  whose  names  are  first 
"  proposed.  This  is  to  be  expected,  whenever 
"  the  electors  have  no  particular  causes  for  pre- 
"  ference  or  rejection. 

"  But  will  all  that  we  have  now  remarked  be 
"  sufficient  to  assure  the  proper  degree  of  sena- 
"  torial  stability  ?  According  to  the  idea  just 
"  intimated,  the  result  of  the  process  is  con- 
"  nected  with  the  order  in  which  the  names  of 
"  the  twenty  candidates  are  placed  on  the  list. 
"  Upon  what  principle  are  these  names  ar- 
"  ranged  ? 

"  No  \vritten  law  is  found  for  determining 
"  this  point.  It  seems  not  improbable  that  sen- 

*  By  plurality  the  writer  means  nothing  more  than 
majority,  but  applies  this  term  to  the  majority  at  the 


second  election. 


L1I383 


38          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  timents  of  civility  would,  in  this  instance  as  in 
"  others,  favour  the  principle  of  giving-  prece- 
"  dence  according  to  official  seniority  :  And  this 
"  order  of  precedence,  after  being  adopted  from 
"  such  sentiments,  might  be  regarded  as  having 
"  the  authority  of  governmental  usage.  Various 
"  examples  of  important  usages,  which  are  in- 
"  troduced  by  the  regard  to  particular  circum- 
"  stances,  may  be  traced  in  the  history  of  the 
"  English  government.  Might  not  a  corres- 
"  pondent  regard  to  circumstances  operate  in 
"  modifying  the  government  of  one  of  the  late 
"  English  colonies  ? 

"  If  political  usage,  in  the  case  before  us,  has 
"  regulated  the  order  of  precedence  according  to 
"  official  seniority,  this  consideration  will  assist 
"  us  in  the  solution  of  the  paradox  which  has 
"  been  stated.  And  that  such  usage  has  been  in 
"  fact  adopted  as  a  fixed  rale,  you  may  fairly 
"  conclude,  from  the  language  of  a  writer  who 
"  speaks  as  a  person  experimentally  acquainted 
"  with  the  subject. — '  The  practice  of  placing 
"  *  those  who  are  assistants  the  first  on  the  list, 
"  *  according  to  seniority  of  office,  though  others 
"  '  may  have  a  greater  number  of  votes,  is  a 
"  '  great  security  of  their  re-election.' 

"  This  practice,  as  it  thus  appears  from  au- 
*'  thentic  evidence*  is  the  established  usage  of 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES.  39 

"  the  legislative  assembly.  Of  course,  it  is  a 
"  species  of  parliamentary  law. 

"  Being  therefore  unquestionably  certain,  it 
"is  to  be  regarded  as  the  key-stone  of  the 
"  arch — essential  to  the  stability  of  the  whole 
"  fabric. 

"  Notwithstanding  all  this  security  for  politi- 
"  cal  firmness,  when  the  number  of  small  elec- 
"  t&rates,  and  the  frequency  of  their  elections, 
"  are  considered,  the  opinion  impresses  itself, 
"  that  other  causes  must  have  had  an  auxiliary 
"  agency  in  maintaining  the  peculiar  steadiness 
"  for  which  the  state  has  been  characterized. 
"  Under  this  impression,  it  would  seem  that  the 
"  mass  of  other  institutions  and  usages  must 
"  have  tended  to  produce  an  habitual  conviction 
"  of  the  importance  of  stability  in  affairs,  an  at- 
"  tachment  to  order,  and  a  correspondent  abhor- 
"  rence  of  confusion. 

"  How  far  this  is  the  fact,  will  be  for  subse- 
"  quent  inquiry.  At  present,  if  we  attend  to 
"  the  particular  subject  before  us,  the  mode  of 
"  electing  the  members  of  the  senatorial  coun- 
"  cil  is  observable  for  its  originality  and  utility. 
"  In  relation  to  this  single  body  of  men,  the 
"  process  is  adapted  to  unite  two  objects  which 
"  have  been  deemed  incompatible — the  control 
"  of  .frequent  elections,  and  the  stability  of  a 
"  permanent  senate. 


4Q          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  To  secure  the  possession  of  their  places, 
"  amidst  annual  elections,  the  members  of  this 
"  body  must  consult  the  public  good:  when- 
"  ever,  in  consequence  of  misconduct,  they  be- 
"  come  '  generally  unpopular,  they  will  infallibly 
"  '  be  dismissed  from  office.' 

"  Yet  the  aggregate  process  is  such  that  it  has 
"  an  '  effect  to  render  permanent  the  seats  of 
"  4  those  who  conduct  well,*  by  guarding  them 
"  '  against  the  schemes  of  parties.'  Their  places, 
"  therefore,  are  practically  holden  during  good 
"  behaviour. 

"  To  determine  respecting  the  merits  or  de- 
"  merits  of  their  conduct,  there  is  no  parade  of 
"  impeachment.  The  determination  is  made 
"by  the  electoral  body,  which  sits  in  judgment, 
"  twice  in  every  year,  upon  each  of  the  mem- 
"  bers.  If  the  conduct  of  any  one  of  them  has 
"  been  such  as  to  deserve  exclusion  from  office, 
"  the  public  opinion,  in  deciding  against  him, 
"  exerts  the  censorian  power  of  expelling  from 
"  the  senate. 

"  What  senatorial  body  was  ever  constituted 
"  upon  principles  more  congenial  to  liberty,  to 
"  order,  and  to  virtue  ?"f 

Views  similar  to  those  of  this  writer  have  also 
been  held  out  by  an  earlier  advocate  :  "It  has 

*  This  is  a  corrupt  idiom  in  general  use  in  Connecticut. 
t  Specimen  of  Republican  Institutions,  p.  30. 

2 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  4} 

"  been  often  considered,"  says  he,  "  as  a  defect  in 
"  the  policy  of  Connecticut,  that  there  are  so 
"  frequent  elections.  The  house  of  representa- 
"  tives  is  chosen  half-yearly.  The  inconve- 
"  nience  of  two  freemen's  meetings  in  a  year,  is 
"  abundantly  compensated  by  the  advantages 
"  derived  from  it,  in  the  choice  of  the  council. 

"  The  advantages  of  this  mode  of  election 
"  are  numerous.  It  brings  into  one  view  the 
"  sense  of  the  freemen,  relative  to  those  men 
"  who  are  best  qualified,  in  their  opinion,  to  fill 
"  the  important  office  of  counsellor.  Each  free- 
"  man  being  at  liberty  to  vote  for  those  twenty 
"  persons  whom  he  prefers,  the  choice  is  free 
"  and  unbiassed.  But,  as  it  could  not  be  sup- 
"  posed  that  any  twenty  persons  would  obtain  a 
"  majority  of  all  the  votes,  it  was  ordained  that 
"  the  twenty  highest  should  be  chosen.  This, 
"  as  it  has  been  seen,  is  advancing  but  half  way 
"  towards  the  office.  At  the  next  election  the 
"  candidate  must  obtain  a  plurality  of  votes, 
"  otherwise  he  is  not  chosen.  Perhaps  a  double 
"  plurality  may  be  deemed  equivalent  to  a  single 
"  majority.  It  has  some  manifest  advantages 
"  over  it.  In  the  first  place,  there  is  always  a 
"  certainty  of  an  election.  Where  there  is  but 
"  a  single  election,  and  of  course  a  majority  is 
"  required,  there  will  usually  be  some  vacancies. 
"  This  will  cause  a  new  election  by  the  people, 

VOL.  r.  F 


42          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

*'  or  they  must  be  filled  by  the  legislature.  The 
"  first  is  expensive  and  troublesome,  and  gene- 
"  rally  attended  with  party-spirit,  electioneering1, 
"  and  corrupt  practices ;  the  latter  is  substitu- 
"  ting  a  mode  of  election  not  conformable  to  the 
"  true  spirit  of  elective  governments.  Secondly, 
"  no  man  can  start  from  obscurity  into  this 
"  branch  of  the  legislature. 

"  If  a  vicious  or  unworthy  character,  by  any 
"  accidental  circumstance,  obtains  a  place  in  ther 
"nomination,  six  months  must  elapse  before 
"  the  second  election  takes  place.  During  that 
"  period  the  freemen  will  certainly  discover  his 
"  true  character,  and  the  nomination  will  almost 
"  as  certainly  limit  his  progress.  Thus  we  pro- 
"  bably  have  the  true  reason  why  demagogues 
"  never  succeed  in  Connecticut.  Where  their 
"  object  is  accomplished  by  a  single  election, 
"  they  will  often  succeed.  But  the  nomination 
"  always  warns  the  people  of  the  approaching 
"  danger,  and  the  evil  seasonably  is  prevented."* 

1.  Examining  the  subject  for  ourselves,  the 
first  thing  aimed  at,  as  we  shall  perceive,  is  to 
oblige  the  candidate  to  undergo  a  second  trial,  or 
two-fold  election,  before  his  success  is  admitted. 

2.  The  second,  is  to  secure  time  for  counteract- 
ing any  sudden  or  temporary  partiality  in  the 

*D\vight's  Oration,  &c.  p.  36,37. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  43 

body  of  the  people,  such  as  may  be  displeasing 
to  those  of  influence,  and  perhaps  of  virtue. 

3.  The  third,  is  to  secure  the  return  of  those 
already  in  power  :  "  the  mode  of  voting  almost 
"  certainly  secures  the  election." 

4.  The  end,  is  the  solution  of  the  problem, 
how  stability  may  be  communicated  to  a  de- 
mocracy.    It  is  "  hence  has  arisen,"  says  the 
writer  whom  I  last  quoted,  "  the   stability    of 
"  this  branch  of  our  government.     Although  the 
"  election  is  perfectly  democratic,  that  is,  made 
"  by  the  people  of  the  state  at  large,  yet  a  coun- 
"  sellor  scarcely  ever  fails  of  a  re-election,  un- 
"  less  he  publicly  declines  it.     Since  the  year 
"  1783,  there  has  been  but  one  instance  of  a 
"  counsellor  being  left  out  by  the  freemen,  un- 
"  less  for  the  reason  which  I  have  mentioned." 

Credit  is  undoubtedly  due  to  this  scheme  or 
system  for  its  ingenuity,  and  its  practical  effects 
in  Connecticut  may  be  completely  beneficial ;  but 
I  venture  to  express  an  opinion,  that  it  is  undis- 
tinguished by  any  feature  of  that  wisdom  which 
is  contended  for,  and  that  it  is  altogether  unfit  for 
imitation.  In  Connecticut,  its  effect  is  to  keep  in 
power  the  party  which  has  from  the  first  possess, 
ed  it.  That  party,  from  the  accuracy  of  the  prin- 
ciples upon  which  it  acts,  or  from  the  virtues  of 
those  who  espouse  it,  may  be  the  proper  deposito- 
ry  of  power ;  but,  were  it  not  so,  the  effect  would 


44          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

be  the  same.  In  either  of  the  more  populous  states, 
or  in  the  United  States  at  large,  such  a  system 
would  place  every  thing  at  the  mercy  of  intrigue, 
of  calumny  and  violence :  it  would  perpetuate  the 
dominion  of  the  present  or  any  future  prevailing 
party.  In  England,  it  would  enable  any  admi- 
nistration to  maintain  itself  forever,  in  equal  defi- 
ance of  the  crown  and  of  the  people.  Every 
where,  it  must  secure  the  continuance  of  power 
to  the  original  holder.  Not  indeed  to  the  indi- 
vidual, because  an  individual  may  become  ob- 
noxious to  his  party  ;  but,  what  is  more  danger- 
ous, it  must  secure  it  to  the  party  itself.  In  practi- 
cal politics,  we  are  not  to  listen  to  such  language 
as  that  contained  in  the  concluding  paragraphs  of 
the  writer  whose  detailed  apology  we  have  read, 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Connecticut — Elective  Franchise. 

11  NO  person  qualified  by  law  is  prohibited 
"  from  voting."* 

The  elective  franchise  is  very  singularly  cir- 
cumstanced. It  accompanies  the  franchise  or 

*  American  Universal  Geography,  8cc.  By  Jedidiah 
Morse,  D.  D.  Boston,  1802.  Art.  Connecticut. 


OF  TIIE  UNITED  STATES.  45 

freedom  of  the  state  ;  but  this  freedom  is  not  a 
birthright,  but  a  gift ;  and  a  gift  which  may  be 
taken  away.  As  to  civil  rights,  the  natives  of 
the  soil  are  not  only  divisible  into  freemen  and 
slaves ;  but  into  slaves,  freemen  and  non-free- 
men :  by  birth,  a  man  is  no  where  even  a  law- 
ful inhabitant !  A  writer,  who  has  presented  a 
systematic  view  of  the  constitutions  of  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States,  as  well  that  of  the 
federal  government,  as  of  the  several  states 
themselves,*  has  represented  the  elective  fran- 
chise as  residing  in  the  people  of  Connecticut, 
though  the  statute-book,  with  reason,  always' 
places  it  in  the  freemen.  In  another  publi- 
cation on  this  subject,  we  are  informed,  that 
"  in  every  town,  each  inhabitant  who  has  the  rc- 
"  quisite  qualifications  of  age,  estate,  and  mo- 
"  ratify,  may  be  publicly  admitted  to  the  electo- 
"  ral  franchise,  under  the  sanction  of  officers 
"  authorised  to  superintend  the  transaction."! 

Every  town  is  capable  of  grantingthe  freedom  of 
the  state.  To  obtain  it,  a  man  must  be  an  inhabi- 
tant of  full  age,  competent  estate,  peaceable  beha- 
viour and  civil  conversation,  and  moreover  certified 
to  be  so,  by  certain  officers  of  the  town.  These 

*  William  Smith,  Esq. 
t  Republican  Institutions, 


46          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

officers  give  or  withhold  this  certificate  at  their 
discretion  :  "  All  such  inhabitants  in  this  state," 
says  the  statute,  "  as  have  accomplished  the  age 
"  of  twenty-one  years,  and  have  the  possession 
"  of  freehold  estate  to  the  value  of  seven  dollars 
"  per  annum,  or  one  hundred  and  thirty-four  dol- 
"  lars  personal  estate  in  the  general  list  of  estates 
"  in  that  year  wherein  they  desire  to  be  admitted 
"  freemen ;  or  are  possessed  of  estates  as  afore- 
"  said,  and  by  law  excused  from  putting  it  into 
"  the  list ;  and  also  are  persons  of  a  quiet  and 
"  peaceable  behaviour,  and  civil  conversation, 
"  may,  if  they  desire  it,  on  their  procuring" 
a  majority  of  the  civil  authority  and  selectmen 
to  certify  in  writing  that  they  are  qualified  "  as 
"  above  said,  be  admitted  and  made  free  of  this 
"  state,  in  case  they  take  the  oath  provided  by 
"  law  for  freemen  ;  which  oath  any  one  assistant 
"  or  justice  of  the  peace  is  hereby  empowered 
"  to  administer  in  said  freemen's  meeting." 

The  duty  of  certifying  was  formerly  confided 
to  the  selectmen  only  ;  and  they  were  liable  to 
punishment  by  fine,  if  they  granted  certificates  to 
unqualified  persons.  The  fine  on  each  certifi- 
cate at  one  time  amounted  to  five  pounds  cur- 
rency, but  latterly  only  to  eleven  dollars.  To 
refuse  a  certificate  to  a  qualified  person  appeal's 
never  to  have  been  punishable.  At  present,  it 
stands  enacted,  "  That  no  person  hereafter  be 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  47 

"  admitted  and  made  free  of  this  state,  until  he 
"  has  procured  a  majority  of  the  civil  authority 
"  and  selectmen  of  the  town  wherein  such  per- 
"  son  inhabits,  to  certify  in  writing,  that  the  said 
*'  person  or  persons  are  qualified  agreeably  to  the 
"  provisions  of  the"  former  act ;  and  "  That  it 
"  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  civil  authority  and  se- 
"  lectmen  of  each  town  in  this  state,  on  every 
u  freemen's-meeting  day,  to  meet  at  the  place 
"  appointed  for  said  meeting,  and  previous  to 
"  said  meeting  being  opened,  and  not  afterwards, 
"  shall  receive  and  carefully  examine  all  applica- 
*'  tions  for  admission  to  the  privileges  of  free- 
"  men,  and  having  so  received,  examined  and 
"  approved,  shall  certify  the  same  in  writing, 
"  which  certificate  shall  be  sufficient  evidence  of 
"  the  qualification  of  such  person  or  persons, 
"  and  shall  entitle  him  or  them  to  the  freemen's 
"  oath." 

That  the  franchise  of  the  state  conveys  the 
elective  franchise,  is  to  be  learned  from  the  colo- 
nial charter  of  King  Charles  the  Second,  an  in- 
strument which  is  still  the  constitution  of  go- 
vernment ;  and  from  the  statutes  which  regulate 
the  mode  of  election.  The  words  of  the  charter 
are  these  : 

"  And  further,  we  will,  and  by  these  presents 
"  for  us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  do  ordain  and 
"  grant,  that  the  governor  of  the  said  company 


48          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  for  the  time  being,  or  in  his  absence  by  occa- 
"  sion  of  sickness,  or  otherwise  by  his  leave  or 
"  permission,  the  deputy -governor  for  the  time 
"  being,  shall  and  may,  from  time  to  time,  upon 
"  all  occasions,,  give  order  for  the  assembling  of 
"  the  said  company,  and  calling  them  together  to 
"  consult  and  advise  of  the  business  and  affairs 
"  of  the  said  company ;  and  that  forever  hereafter, 
"  twice  in  every  year,  that  is  to  say,  on  every 
"  second  Thursday  in  October,  and  on  every 
"  second  Thursday  in  May,  or  oftener,  in  case 
"  it  shall  be  requisite,  the  assistants  and  freemen 
"  of  the  said  company,  or  such  of  them  (notex- 
"  ceeding  two  persons  from  each  place,  town  or 
"  city)  who  shall  be  from  time  to  time  thereunto 
"  elected  or  deputed  by  the  major  part  of  the  free - 
"  men  of  the  respective  towns,  cities  and  places, 
"  for  which  they  shall  be  elected  or  deputed, 
"  shall  have  a  general  meeting  or  assembly, 
"  then  and  there  to  consult  and  advise  in  and 
"  about  the  affairs  and  business  of  the  said  com- 
«  pany." 

The  towns  enfranchise,  but  not  disfranchise. 
This  latter  belongs  to  the  highest  court  of  ju- 
dicature, called  the  superior  court.  It  is  pro- 
vided, "  That  if  any  freeman  of  this  state 
"  shall  walk  scandalously,  or  commit  any  scan- 
"  dalous  offence,  it  shall  be  in  the  power  of  the 
"  superior  court  in  this  state,  on  complaint  there  - 
1 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  49 

**  of  to  them  made,  to  disfranchise  such  free-^ 
"  man ;  who  shall  stand  disfranchised,  till  b\ 
"  his  good  behaviour  the  said  superior  court 
''  shall  see  cause  to  restore  him  to  his  franchise - 
"  ment  or  freedom  again ;  which  the  said  court 
"  is  empowered  to  do." 

Our  curiosity  is  now  raised,  as  to  the  provi- 
sions and  the  history  of  the  constitution  of  go- 
vernment ;  and,  by  the  inquiry  to  which  I  pro- 
pose to  devote  the  succeeding  chapter,  not  only 
these  questions  will  be  answered,  but  much  light 
will  be  thrown  upon  all  the  existing  institutions 
of  Connecticut. 

Besides  the  general  causes  of  disfranchise 
ment,  it  is  provided,  that  in  case  of  defamation 
of  "  any  court  of  justice,  or  the  sentence  of 
"  proceedings  of  the  same ;  or  any  of  the  ma- 
"  gistrates,  judges  or  justices  of  any  court,  in 
u  respect  of  any  act  or  sentence  therein  passed," 
in  any  of  these  cases,  "  the  court  before  whom 
"  the  trial  is  had"  may  disfranchise  ;*  and  that 
any  person,  convicted,  a  second  time,  of  giving 
or  receiving  any  thing  in  the  nature  of  a  bribe  in 
any  election,  shall  be  disfranchised.! 

*  Statutes  of  Connecticut,  Title  XIV.  chap.  1.  ser.  3. 
t  Ibid,  Title  Election. 

VOL  I.  G 


CHAPTER  VIL 

Connecticut — Constitution  of  Government. 

THE  constitution  of  government  is  contain- 
ed, as  already  observed,  in  the  colonial  charter, 
of  which  the  grant  was  in  the  year  1662.  In, 
1784,  it  was  enacted  by  the  general  assem- 
bly, "  That  the  ancient  form  of  civil  govern- 
"  ment,  contained  in  the  charter  from  Charles 
"  the  Second',  king  of  England,  and  adopted 
"  by  the  people  of  this  state,  shall  be  and  re- 
"  main  the  civil  constitution  of  this  state,  un- 
"  der  the  sole  authority  of  the  people  thereof, 
"  independent  of  any  king  or  prince  whatever."* 
What  follows  comprises  so  much  of  the  charter 
as  respects  the  constitution  of  government  ; 
and  the  preamble  will  materially  explain  the 
origin  and  basis  of  the  establishment. 

"  CHARLES  the  Second,  by  the  grace  of 
"  God,  king  of  England,  Scotland,  France  and 

*  There  is  here  an  example,  I  believe  solitary  in  the 
statutes,  of  the  use  of  the  word  people,  as  a  body  pos- 
sessed of  civil  rights.  Free  inhabitants  soon  follows. 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  &c.        5^ 

"  Ireland,  defender  of  the  faith,  &c.  To  ali 
"  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  GREETING. 
"  Whereas  by  the  several  navigations,  dis- 
c'  coveries  and  successful  plantations  of  divers 
"  of  our  loving  subjects  of  this  our  realm  of 
"  England,  several  lands,  islands,  places,  colonies 
"  and  plantations  have  been  obtained  and  settled 
"  in  that  part  of  the  continent  of  America  called 
"  New  England,  and  thereby  the  trade  and  com- 
"  merce  there  hath  been,  of  late  years,  much  in- 
"  creased ;  and  whereas  we  have  been  inform - 
"  ed  by  the  humble  petition  of  our  trusty  and 
"  well  beloved  John  Winthrop,  John  Mason, 
"  Samuel  Wyllys,  Henry  Clarke,  Matthew  Al- 
"  lyn,  John  Tapping,  Nathan  Gold,  Richard 
"  Treat,  Richard  Lord,  Henry  Wolcott,  John 
"  Talcott,  Daniel  Clarke,  John  Ogden,  Thomas 
"  Wells,  Obadiah  Bruen,  John  Clarke,  Anthony 
"  Hawkins,  John  Deming  an'd  Matthew  Cam- 
"  field,  being  persons  principally  interested  in 
"  our  colony  or  plantation  of  Connecticut  in 
•'  New  England,  that  the  same  colony,  or  the 
"  greatest  part  thereof,  was  purchased  and  ob- 
>H  tained  for  great  and  valuable  considerations, 
fl  and  some  other  part  thereof  gained  by  con- 
"  quest,  and  with  much  difficulty,  and  at  the  only 
"  endeavours,  expense  and  charges  of  them  and 
"  their  associates,  and  those  under  whom  they 
•f  claim,  subdued,  improved,  and  thereby  ho 


rr2  TRAVELS  THROUC;H  PART 

"  come  a  considerable  enlargement  and  addi- 
"  tion  of  our  dominions  and  interest  there. 
"  Abu;  know  ye,  That  in  consideration  there - 
"  of,  and  in  regard  the  said  colony  is  remote 
"  from  other  the  English  plantations  in  the 
"  places  aforesaid,  and  to  the  end  the  affairs  and 
u  business  which  shall  from  time  to  time  hap- 
"  pen  or  arise  concerning  the  same,  may  be 
"  duly  ordered  and  managed,  we  have  thought 
"  fit,  and  at  the  humble  petition  of  the  persons 
"  aforesaid,  and  are  graciously  pleased  to  create 
"  and  make  them  a  body  politic  and  corporate, 
"  with  the  powers  and  privileges  herein  after 
"  mentioned ;  and  accordingly  our  will  and 
"  pleasure  is,,  anel  of  our  especial  grace,  certain 
"  knowledge  and  mere  motion,  we  have  ordain - 
"•  ed,  constituted  and  declared,  and  by  these- 
"  presents,  for  us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  do 
"  ordain,  constitute  and  declare,  that  they  the  said 
"  John  Winthrop,  &.c.  and  all  such  others  as  now 
"  are,  or  hereafter  shall  be  admitted  and  made 
"  free  of  the  company  anel  society  of  our  colony 
"  of  Connecticut  in  America,  shall  from  time  to 
"  time,  and  forever  hereafter,  be  one  body  cor- 
'  porate  and  politic,  in  fact  and  name,  by  the 
"  name  of  governor  and  company  of  the  En 
"  glish  colony  of  Connecticut  in  New  England, 
"  in  America  ;  and  that  by  the  same  name,  they 
;i  and  their  successors  shall  and  may  have  per- 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES.  53 

"  petual  succession,  and  sliall  and  may  be  per- 
"  sons  able  and  capable  in  the  law,  to  plead  and 
"  be  impleaded,  to  answer  and  to  be  answered 
"  unto,  to  defend  and  be  defended  inallandsin- 
"  gular  suits,  causes,  quarrels,  matters,  actions 
"  and  things,  of  what  kind  or  nature  soever ; 
"  and  also  to  have,  take,  possess,  acquire  and 
"  purcliase  lands,  tenements  or  hereditaments, 
"  or  any  goods,  or  chattels,  and  the  same  to 
"  lease,  grant,  demise,  alien,  bargain,  sell  and 
"  dispose  of,  as  other  our  liege  people  of  this 
"  our  realm  of  England,  or  any  other  corpora- 
"  tion  or  body  politic  within  the  same  may  law- 
"  fully  do.  And  further,  That  the  said  governor 
"  and  company,  and  their  successors,  shall  and 
"  may  forever  hereafter  have  a  common  seal,  to 
"  serve  and  use  for  all  causes,  matters,  things  and 
".affairs  whatsoever,  of  them  and  their  succes- 
"  sors,  and  the  same  seal  to  alter,  change, 
"  break  and  make  new  from  time  to  time,  at 
."  their  wills  and  pleasures,  as  they  shall  think 
"  fit.  And  further,  we  will  and  ordain,  and  by 
•'  these  presents,  for  us,  our  heirs  and  successors, 
"  do  declare  and  appoint,  That  for  the  better  or- 
*'  dering  and  managing  of  the  affairs  and  busi- 
"  ness  of  the  said  company  and  their  succes- 
"'  sors,  there  shall  be  one  governor,  one  deputy  - 
*'*  governor,  and  twelve  assistants,  to  be  from 


54          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

u  time  to  time  constituted,  elected  and  chosen, 
"  out  of  the  freemen  of  the  said  company  for 
"  the  time  being,  in  such  manner  and  form  as 
"  hereafter  in  these  presents  is  expressed,  which 
"  said  officers  shall  apply  themselves  to  take 
"  care  for  the  best  disposing  and  ordering  of  the 
"  general  business  and  affairs  of  and  concerning 
"  the  land  and  hereditaments  herein  after  men- 
"  tioned  to  be  granted,  and  the  plantation  there - 
"  of,  and  the  government  of  the  people  thereof : 
"  and  for  the  better  execution  of  our  royal  plea- 
s' sure  herein,  we  do  for  us,  our  heirs  and  suc- 
"  cessors,  assign,  name,   constitute  and  appoint 
"  the  aforesaid  John  Winthrop  to  be  the  first 
"  and  present  governor  of  the    said  company, 
"  and  the  said  John  Mason  to  be  the  deputy  - 
"  governor,  and  the  said  Samuel  Wyllys,  &c.  to 
"  be  the  twelve  present  assistants  of  the  said  com- 
"  pany,  to  continue  in  the  said  several  offices  re- 
"  spectively,  until  the  second  Thursday,  which 
"  shall  be  in  the  month  of   October  now  next 
"  coming.  And  further,  we  will,  and  by  these 
"  presents  for  us,  our  heirs  and  successors,  do  or 
11 '  dainand  grant,  That  the  governor  of  the  said 
"  company  for  the  time  being,  or  in  his  absence 
"  by  occasion  of  sickness,  or  otherwise  by  his 
"  leave  or  permission,  the  deputy -governor  for 
"  the  time  being,   shall  and  may  from  time  to 
u  time  upon   all  occasions,  give  order  for  the 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  55 

''  assembling  of  the  said  company,  and  calling 
"  them  together  to  consult  and  advise  of  the 
"  business  and  affairs  of  the  said  company,  and 
"  that  forever  hereafter,  twice  in  every  year, 
•'  that  is  to  say,  on  every  second  Thursday  in 
'  October,  and  on  every  second  Thursday  in 
*'  May,  or  oftener  in  case  it  shall  be  requisite, 
"  the  assistants  and  freemen  of  the  said  compa- 
•'  ny,  or  such  of  them  (not  exceeding  two  per- 
"  sons  from  each  place,  town  or  city)  who  shall 
u  be  from  time  to  time  thereunto  elected  or  de- 
"  puted  by  the  major  part  of  the  freemen  of  the 
"  respective  towns,  cities  and  places  for  which 
•'  they  shall  be  elected  or  deputed,  shall  have  a 
"  general  meeting  or  assembly,  then  and  there 
"  to  consult  and  advise  in  and  about  the  affairs 
"  and  business  of  the  said  company  :  and  that 
"  the  governor,  or  in  his  absence  the  deputy - 
u  governor  of  the  said  company  for  the  time 
''  being,  and  such  of  the  assistants  and  freemen 
"  of  the  said  company  as  shall  be  so  elected  or 
"  deputed,  and  be  present  at  such  meeting  or 
"  assembly,  or  the  greatest  number  of  them, 
"  whereof  the  governor  or  deputy -governor,  and 
"  six  of  the  assistants,  at  least  to  be  seven,  shall 
"  be  called  the  general  assembly,  and  shall  have 
"  full  power  and  authority  to  alter  and  change 
"  their  days  and  times  of  meeting,  or  general 
"  assemblies,  for  electing  the  governor,  deputy- 


5(j  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PAKT 

"  governor,  assistants,  or  other  officers,  or  any 
"  other  courts,  assemblies  or  meetings,  and  to 
"  choose,  nominate  and  appoint  such  and  so 
"  many  other  persons  as  they  shall  think  fit,  and 
"  shall  be  willing  to  accept  the  same,  to  be  free 
"  of  the  said  company,  and  body  politic,  and 
"  them  into  the  same  to  admit ;  and  to  elect 
"  and  constitute  such  officers  as  they  shall  think 
"  fit  and  requisite  for  the  ordering,  managing 
"  and  disposing  of  the  affairs  of  the  said  go- 
"  vernor  and  company  and  their  successors. 
"  And  -we  do  hereby  for  us,  our  heirs  and  suc- 
"  cessors,  establish  and  ordain,  That  once  in 
"  a  year  for  ever  hereafter,  namely,  the  said  se- 
"  cond  Thursday  of  May,  the  governor,  deputy  - 
"  governor  and  assistants  of  the  said  company, 
"  and  other  officers  of  the  said  company,  or  such 
"  of  them  as  the  said  general  assembly  shall 
"  think  fit,  shall  be,  in  the  said  general  court  and 
"  assembly,  to  be  held  from  that  day  or  time, 
"  newly  chosen  for  the  year  ensuing,  by  such 
"  greater  part  of  the  said  company  for  the  time 
"  being,  then  and  there  present ;  and  if  the  go- 
"  vernor,  deputy -governor  and  assistants,  by 
"  these  presents  appointed,  or  such  as  hereafter 
"  be  newly  chosen  into  their  rooms,  or  any  of 
"  them,  or  any  other  the  officers  to  be  appointed 
"  for  the  said  company  shall  die,  or  be  removed 
"  from  his  or  their  several  offices  or  places  be- 
1 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  57 

"  fore  the  said  general  day  of  election,  whom  we 
u  do  hereby  declare  for  any  misdemeanour  or  de- 
"  fault,  to  be  removable  by  the  governor,  assist- 
"  ants  and  company,  or  such  greater  part  of 
"  them  in  any  of  the  said  public  courts  to  be  as- 
"  sembled,  as  is  aforesaid,  that  then  and  in  ever}' 
"  such  case,  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  to  and 
"  for  the  governor,  deputy-governor,  and  assist- 
"  ants  and  company  aforesaid,  or  such  greater 
"  part  of  them  so  to  be  assembled,  as  is  afore - 
"  said,  in  any  of  their  assemblies,  to  proceed  to 
"  a  new  election  of  one  or  more  of  their  com- 
"  pany,  in  the  room  or  place,  rooms  or  places, 
"  of  such  governor,  deputy- governor,  assistant 
"  or  other  officer  or  officers  so  dying  or  remo- 
"  ved,  according  to  their  discretions  ;  and  imnic- 
"  diately  upon  and  after  such  election  or  elec- 
"  tions  made  of  such  governor,  deputy- go  ver- 
"  nor,  assistant  or  assistants,  or  any  other  officer 
"  of  the"  said  company,  in  manner  and  form 
"  aforesaid,  the  authority,  office  and  power  be- 
"  fore  given  to  the  former  governor,  deputy - 
"  govenior,  or  other  officer  and  officers  so  remo- 
"  ved,  in  whose  stead  and  place  new  shall  be 
"  sent,  shall  as  to  him  and  them,  and  every  of 
"  them  respectively  cease  and  determine." 

Here  follow  some  incidental  ordinances,  af- 
ter which  is  a  clause,  of  which  the  follow- 
ing portion  is  necessary  to  our  view :  "  And 

VOL.  i.  H 


58  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  we  do  further,  of  our  special  grace,  cer- 
"  tain  knowledge  and  mere  motion,  give  and 
"  grant  unto  the  said  governor  and  compa- 
"  ny  of  the  English  colony  of  Connecticut,  in 
"  New  England  in  America,  and  their  succes- 
"  sors,  that  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  to  and  for 
"  the  governor,  or  deputy -governor  and  such  of 
"  the  assistants  of  the  said  company  for  the  time 
"  being  as  shall  be  assembled  in  any  of  the  ge- 
"  neral  courts  aforesaid,  or  in  any  courts  to  be 
"  especially  summoned  or  assembled  for  that 
"  purpose,  or  the  greater  part  of  them,  whereof 
"  the  govemor,  or  deputy-governor,  and  six  of 
"  the  assistants  to  be  always  seven,  to  erect  and 
"  make  such  judicatories,  for  the  hearing  and 
"  determining  of  all  actions,  causes,  matters  and 
"  things  happening  within  the  said  colony  or 
"  plantation,  and  which  shall  be  in  dispute,  and 
"  depending  there,  as  they  shall  think  fit  and 
"  convenient ;  and  also  from  time  to  time  to 
"  make,  ordain  and  establish  all  manner  of 
"  wholesome  and  reasonable  laws,  statutes,  or- 
"  dinances,  directions  and  instructions,  not  con- 
"  trary  to  the  laws  of  this  realm  of  England,  as 
"  well  for  settling  the  forms  and  ceremonies  of 
"  government,  and  magistracy,  fit  and  necessary 
"  for  the  said  plantation,  and  the  inhabitants 
"  there,  as  for  naming  and  styling  all  sorts  of 
"  officers,  both  superior  and  inferior,  which  they 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  59 

"  shall  find  needful  for  the  government  and  plan- 
"  tation  of  the  said  colony,  and  the  distinguish- 
"  ing  and  setting  forth  of  the  several  duties, 
"  powers  and  limits  of  every  such  office  and 
*'  place,  and  the  forms  of  such  oaths  not  being 
"  contrary  to  the  laws  and  statutes  of  this  our 
"  realm  of  England,  to  be  administered  for  the 
"  execution  of  the  said  several  offices  and  pla- 
"  ces,  as  also  for  the  disposing  and  ordering  of 
"  the  election  of  such  of  the  said  officers  as  are 
"  to  be  annually  chosen,  and  of  such  others  as 
"  shall  succeed  in  case  of  death  or  removal,  and 
"  administering  the  said  oath  to  the  new  elected 
u  officers." 

What  remains  to  be  extracted  is  a  clause 
of  importance :  "Our  will  and  pleasure," 
says  the  royal  founder,  "Our  will  and  jfleasure 
"  is,  and  we  do  for  us,  our  heirs  and  successors, 
"  ordain,  declare  and  grant  unto  the  said  go- 
"  vernor  and  company,  and  their  successors, 
"  that  all,  and  every  the  subjects  of  us,  our 
"  heirs,  or  successors,  which  shall  go  to  inhabit 
"  within  the  said  colony,  and  every  of  their  chil- 
"  dren,  which  shall  happen  to  be  born  there,  or 
"  on  the  seas  in  going  thither,  or  returning  from 
"  thence,  shall  have  and  enjoy  all  liberties  and 
"  immunities  of  free  and  natural  subjects  with- 
"  in  any  of  the  dominions  of  us,  our  heirs  or 
"  successors,  to  all  intents,  constructions  and 


gQ          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  purposes  whatsoever,  as  if  they  and  every  of 
"  them  were  bom  within  the  realm  of  England." 
The  clause  then  goes  on  to  provide  for  the 
administration  of  the  oath  of  supremacy  and 
obedience. 

1.  From  the  foregoing  we  discover,  that  sub- 
ject always  to  the  dominion  of  the  crown,  the 
soil  of  the  colony  was  acquired  by  private  ad- 
venture.    The  facts  adverted  to  in  the  pream- 
ble are  such  as  were  stated  in  the  petition. 

2.  We  learn  further,  that  the  adventurers  were 
created  a  body   politic  and  corporate,  by  the 
name  of  the  Company  and  Society  of  the  Colony 
of  Connecticut ;  and  that  the  incorporation  was 
extended  to  the  adventurers  and  their  associates, 
and  all  such  as  then  were,  or  thereafter  should 
be,  admitted  and  made  free  of  the  company. 

4.  That  the  company  still  subsists  in  the  per- 
son of  the  state. 

5.  That  the  company,  and  therefore  the  state, 
was  and  is  invested  with  the  right  of  "  choosing, 
"  nominating  and  appointing  such  and  so  many 
"  other  persons  as  they  shall  think  fit,  and  shall 
"  be  willing  to  accept  the  same,  to  be  free  of  the 
"  said  company  and  body  politic,  and  them  into 
"  the  same  to  admit ;"  and,  in  conformity  with 
this  basis,  we  find  the  general  court  or  assem- 
bly declaring,  in    1665*;  "  That  it  is  their  full 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  gj 

"  sense  and  determination,  that  such  persons  as 
"  are,  or  hereafter  shall  be,  approved  to  be 
"freemen  of  this  corporation,  shall  take  the 
"  oath  that  is  already  established  upon  record 
"  to  be  administered  to  the  respective  freemen  : 
"  And  further,  that  all  such  as  shall  refuse  to 
"  take  the  said  oath,  though  othenvise  approved 
"  persons,  shall  not  partake  of  the  privileges  of 
"  those  that  have  been  formally  incorporated 
"  into  this  civil  society.'''' 

6.  That  every  person  born  in  Connecticut, 
is  born  to  the  inheritance  of  Magna  Charta. 

But,  a  further  enlargement  of  our  view,  of 
the  institutions  of  Connecticut,  is  to  be  obtained 
from  the  perusal  of  an  instrument  more  ancient 
than  the  charter ;  namely,  a  constitution  of  go- 
vernment, formed  by  the  colonists  themselves,  in 
the  year  1639.  This  constitution,  of  which  the 
existence  was  superseded  by  the  charter,  was  com- 
prised in  eleven  articles,  of  which  the  ten  follow- 
ing bear  upon  tht  structure  of  the  government : 

"  1.  IT  is  ordered,  sentenced  and  decreed, 
"  That  there  shall  be  yearly  two  general  assem- 
"  biies  or  courts,  the  one  on  the  second  Thurs- 
"  day  of  April,  the  other  the  second  Thursday 
"  of  September  following :  the  first  shall  be 
"  called  the  court  of  election,  wherein  shall  be 
"  yearly  chosen,  from  time  to  time,  so  many 


02          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  magistrates  and  other  public  officers  as  shall 
"  be  found  requisite,  whereof  one  to  be  chosen 
"  governor  for  the  year  ensuing,  and  until  ano- 
"  ther  be  chosen,  and  no  other  magistrate  to  be 
"  chosen  for  more  than  one  year ;  provided  al- 
"  ways  there  be  six  chosen  besides  the  gover- 
"  nor,  which  being  chosen  and  sworn,  according 
"  to  an  oath  recorded  for  that  purpose,  shall 
"  have  power  to  administer  justice  according  to 
"  the  laws  here  established,  and  for  want  there- 
"  of  according  to  the  rule  of  the  Word  of  God  : 
"  which  choice  shall  be  made  by  all  that  are 
"  admitted  freemen,  and  have  taken  the  oath  of 
"  fidelity,  and  do  cohabit  within  this  jurisdic- 
"  tion,  having  been  admitted  inhabitants  by  the 
"  major  part  of  the  town  where  they  live,  or  the 
"  major  part  of  such  as  shall  be  then  present. 

"2.  It  is  ordered,  sentenced  and  decreed, 
"  That  the  election  of  the  aforesaid  magistrates 
"  shall  be  on  this  manner :  every  person  present 
"  and  qualified  for.  choice  shall  bring  in  (to  the 
"  persons  deputed  to  receive  them)  one  single 
"  paper,  with  the  name  of  him  written  on  it 
"  whom  he  desires  to  have  governor ;  and  he 
"  that  hath  the  greatest  number  of  papers  shall 
"  be  governor  for  that  year.  And  the  rest  of 
"  the  magistrates  or  public  officers  to  be  chosen 
"  in  this  manner  :  the  secretary  for  the  time  be- 
"  ing  shall  first  read  the  names  of  all  that  are  to 


OF  THE  UXITED  STATES.  53 

"  be  put  to  choice,  and  then  shall  severally  no- 
"  minute  them  distinctly ;  and  every  one,  that 
"  would  have  the  person  nominated  to  be  cho- 
"  sen,  shall  bring  in  one  single  paper,  written 
"  upon  ;  and  he  that  would  not  have  him  chosen 
"  shall  bring  in  a  blank  ;  and  every  one  that  has 
"  more  written  papers  than  blanks  shall  be  a 
"  magistrate  for  that  year  ;  which  papers  shall  be 
"  received  and  told  by  one  or  more  that  shall  be 
"  then  chosen  by  the  court,  and  sworn  to  be 
"  faithful  therein  :  but,  in  case  there  should  not 
"  be  six  persons  as  aforesaid,  besides  the  go- 
tc  vernor,  out  of  those  which  are  nominated,  then 
"  he  or  they,  which  have  the  most  written  papers, 
"  shall  be  a  magistrate  or  magistrates,  for  the 
"  ensuing  year,  to  make  up  the  aforesaid  mim- 
"  ber. 

"3.  It  is  ordered,  sentenced  and  decreed. 
"  That  the  secretary  shall  not  nominate  any  per- 
"  son  new,  nor  shall  any  person  be  chosen  newly 
"  into  the  magistracy,  which  was  not  propounded 
"  in  some  general  court  before,  to  be  nominated 
"  the  next  election :  and  to  that  end  it  shall  be 
"  lawful  for  each  of  the  towns  aforesaid,  by  their 
"  deputies,  to  nominate  any  two  whom  they  con- 
"  ceive  fit  to  be  put  to  election,  and  the  court 
"  may  add  so  many  more  as  they  judge  requi- 
"  site. 


g4          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"4.  It  is  ordered,  sentenced  and  decreed, 
"  That  no  person  be  chosen  governor  above 
"  once  in  two  years,  and  that  the  governor  be 
u  always  a  member  of  some  approved  congre- 
"  gation,  and  formerly  of  the  magistracy  within 
"  this  jurisdiction,  and  all  the  magistrates  free- 
u  men  of  this  commonwealth  ;  and  that  no  ma- 
"  gistrate  or  other  public  officer  shall  execute  any 
"  part  of  his  or  their  office  before  they  are  several- 
"  ly  sworn,  which  shall  be  done  in  the  face  of  the 
"  court  if  they  be  present,  and  in  case  of  absence 
"  by  some  deputed  for  that  purpose. 

"5.  It  is  ordered,  sentenced  and  decreed, 
"  That  to  the  aforesaid  court  of  election,  the  se- 
"  veral  towns  shall  send  their  deputies,  and  when 
"  the  elections  are  ended  they  may  proceed  in 
"  any  public  service,  as  at  other  courts  :  also,  the 
"  other  general  court,  in  September,  shall  be  for 
"  making  of  laws,  and  any  other  public  occa- 
"  sion  which  concerns  the  good  of  the  common- 
"  wealth. 

"  6.  It  is  ordered,  sentenced  and  decreed, 
"  That  the  governor  shall,  either  by  himself  or  by 
"  the  secretary,  send  out  summonses  to  the  con- 
"  stables  of  every  town,  for  the  calling  of  those 
"  two  standing  courts,  one  month  at  least  before 
"  their  several  times  ;  and  also,  if  the  governor 
"  and  the  greatest  part  of  the  magistrates  see 
"  cause,  upon  any  special  occasion,  to  call  a  ge- 
2 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  55 

"  neral  court,  they  may  give  order  to  the  secre- 
"  tary  so  to  do  within  fourteen  days  warning, 
"  and  if  urgent  necessity  so  require,  upon  a 
"  shorter  notice,  giving  sufficient  grounds  for  it 
"  to  the  deputies  when  they  meet,  or  else  be 
"  questioned  for  the  same.  And  if  the  gover- 
"  nor,  or  major  part  of  the  magistrates,  shall 
"  either  neglect  or  refuse  to  call  the  two  general 
"  standing  courts,  or  either  of  them,  as  also  at 
"  other  times  when  the  occasions  of  the  com- 
"  monwealth  require,  the  freemen  thereof,  or 
"  the  major  part  of  them  shall  petition  to  them 
u  so  to  do ;  if  then  it  be  either  denied  or  neg- 
"  lected,  the  said  freemen,  or  the  major  part  of 
"  them,  shall  have  power  to  give  order  to  the  con- 
"  stables  of  the  several  towns  to  do  the  same,  and 
"  so  may  meet  together  and  choose  to  themselves 
"  a  moderator,  and  may  proceed  to  do  any  act  of 
"  power  which  any  other  general  courts  may. 

"  7.  It  is  ordered,  sentenced  and  decreed, 
"  That  after  there  are  warrants  given  out  for  any 
"  of  the  said  general  courts,  the  constable  or 
"  constables  of  each  town  shall  forthwith  give 
"  notice  distinctly  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  same, 
"  in  some  public  assembly,  or  by  going  or  send- 
"  ing  from  house  to  house,  that  at  a  place  and 
<;  time  by  him  or  them  limited  and  set,  the} 
*'  meet  and  assemble  themselves  together,  to 
"•  elect  and  choose  certain  deputies  to  be  at  the 

VOL.     I.  T 


65          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  general  court  then  following,  to  agitate  the4 
"  affairs  of  the  commonwealth,  which  said  de- 
"  puties  shall  be  chosen  by  all  that  are  admitted 
u  inhabitants  in  the  several  towns,  and  have  taken 
"  the  oath  of  fidelity ;  provided,  that  none  be 
"  chosen  a  deputy  for  any  general  court  which 
"  is  not  a  freeman  of  this  commonwealth.  The 
"  aforesaid  deputy  shall  be  chosen  in  manner 
"  following :  every  person  that  is  present  and 
"  qualified,  as  before  expressed,  shall  bring  the 
"  names  of  such,  written  on  several  papers,  as 
"  they  desire  to  have  chosen,  for  that  employ  - 
"  ment ;  and  those  three  or  four,  more  or  less, 
"  being  the  number  agreed  on  to  be  chosen,  for 
"  that  time,  that  have  the  greatest  number  of 
"  papers  written  for  them,  shall  be  deputies  for 
"  that  court ;  whose  names  shall  be  indorsed  on 
"  the  back  side  of  the  warrant,  and  returned 
"  into  the  court  with  the  constable  or  constables 
"  hand  unto  the  same. 

"8.  It  is  ordered,  sentenced  and  decreed, 
"  That  Windsor,  Hartford  and  Wethersfield 
"  shall  have  power,  each  town,  to  send  four  of 
"  their  freemen  as  their  deputies,  to  every  ge- 
"  neral  court ;  and  whatsoever  other  towns  shall 
"  be  hereafter  added  to  this  jurisdiction,  they 
"  shall  send  so  many  deputies  as  the  court  shall 
"  judge  meet ;  a  reasonable  proportion  to  the 
"  number  of  freemen  that  are  in  said  towns,  be- 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES  gj 

*'  ing  to  be  attended  therein ;  which  deputies 
"  shall  have  the  power  of  the  whole  town,  to 
"  give  their  votes  and  allowance  to  all  such 
"  laws  and  orders  as  may  be  for  the  public 
"  good,  and  unto  which  the  said  towns  are  to 
"  be  bound. 

"9.  It  is  ordered,  sentenced  and  decreed, 
"  That  the  deputies,  thus  chosen,  shall  have 
"  power  and  liberty  to  appoint  a  time  and  a  place 
"  of  meeting  together,  before  any  general  court, 
"  to  advise  and  consult  of  all  such  things  as 
"  may  concern  the  good  of  the  public  ;  and  also 
"  to  examine  their  own  elections,  whether  ac- 
"  cording  to  the  order ;  and  if  they  or  the 
"  greatest  part  of  them  find  any  election  to  be 
"  illegal,  they  may  seclude  such  for -the  present 
"  from  their  meeting,  and  return  the  same  and 
"  their  reasons  to  the  court ;  and  if  it  prove 
"  true,  the  court  may  fine  the  party  or  parties  so 
"  intruding  upon  the  town,  if  they  see  cause, 
"  and  give  out  a  warrant  to  go  to  a  new  election 
"  in  a  legal  way,  either  in  part  or  in  whole  ;  also 
"  the  said  deputies  shall  have  power  fo  fine  any 
"  that  shall  be  disorderly  at  their  meeting,  or  for 
"  not  coining  in  due  time  or  place,  according  to 
"  appointment ;  and  they  may  return  said  fine 
"  into  the  court,  if  it  be  refused  to  be  paid,  and 
"  the  treasurer  to  take  notice  of  it,  and  to  estreat 
"  or  levy  the  same  as  he  doth  other  fines. 


68  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  10.  It  is  ordered,  sentenced  and  decreed, 
"  That  every  general  court  (except  such  as, 
"  through  neglect  of  the  governor  and  the  great- 
"  est  part  of  the  magistrates,  the  freemen  them- 
"  selves  do  call)  shall  consist  of  the  governor,  or 
"  some  one  chosen  to  moderate  the  court,  and 
"  four  other  magistrates  at  least,  with  the  major 
"  part  of  the  deputies  of  the  several  towns,  legal- 
"  ly  chosen ;  and  in  case  the  freemen,  or  the 
"  major  part  of  them,  through  neglect  or  refu- 
"  sal  of  the  governor  and  major  part  of  the  ma- 
"  gistrates,  shall  call  a  court,  that  shall  consist  of 
"  die  major  part  of  -the  freemen  that  are  present, 
"  or  their  deputies,  with  a  moderator  chosen  by 
"  them  :  in  which  said  general  court  shall  consist 
"  the  supreme  power  of  the  commonwealth,  and 
"  they  only  shall  have  power  to  make  laws  or  re- 
"  peal  them,  to  grant  levies,  to  admit  freemen,  to 
"  dispose  of  lands  undisposed  of  to  several  towns 
"  or  persons,  and  also  shall  have  power  to  call 
"  other  courts,  or  magistrate,  or  any  other  per- 
"  son  whatsoever,  into  question  for  any  misde- 
"  meanour ;  and  may  for  just  causes  displace  or 
"  deal  otherwise,  according  to  the  nature  of  the 
"  offence  ;  and  also  may  deal  in  any  other  matter 
"  that  concerns  the  good  of  this  commonwealth, 
"  except  election  of  magistrates,  which  shall  be 
u  done  by  the  whole  body  of  freemen ;  in  which 
"  court  the  governor  or  moderator  shall  have 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  39 

"  power  to  order  the  court,  to  give  liberty  of 
"  speech,  and  silence  unreasonable  or  disorderly 
"  speaking,  to  put  all  things  to  vote,  and  in  case 
"  the  vote  be  equal,  to  have  a  casting  voice  :  but 
"  none  of  these  courts  shall  be  adjourned  or  dis- 
"  solved  without  the  consent  of  the  major  part  of 
"  the  court." — The  eleventh  article  regulates  the 
division  of  the  public  burdens.* 

On  this  constitution,  a  modern  historian  has 
passed  a  high  eulogium :  "  With  such  wis- 
"  dom  did  our  venerable  ancestors  provide  for 
"  the  freedom  and  liberties  of  themselves  and 
"  their  posterity  !  Thus  happily  did  they  guard 
"  against  every  encroachment  on  the  rights  of 
"  the  subject !  This,  probably,  is  one  of  the 
"  most  free  and  happy  constitutions  of  civil  go- 
"  vernment  which  has  ever  been  formed  !  The 
"  formation  of  it,  at  so  early  a  period,  when  the 
"  light  of  liberty  was  wholly  darkened  in  most 
"  parts  of  the  earth,  and  the  rights  of  men  were 
"  so  little  understood  in  others,  does  great 
"  honour  to  their  ability,  integrity  and  love  to 
"  mankind.  To  posterity  indeed,  it  exhibited 
"  a  most  benevolent  regard  !  It  has  continued, 
"  with  little  alteration,  to  the  present  time.  The 
"  happy  consequences  of  it,  which,  for  more 

*  History  of  Connecticut,  Appendix,  No.  III. 


70          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  than  a  century  and  half,  the  people  of  Con- 
"  necticut  have  experienced,  are  without  de- 
"  scription  !"* 

Whether  or  not  this  praise  is  entirely  merited,  I 
shall  not  examine.  The  constitution,  considering 
the  circumstances  under  which  it  was  formed,  (for, 
in  1639,  Connecticut  consisted  only  in  the  three 
settlements  named  in  the  instrument,  and  pos- 
sessed a  population  of  only  eight  hundred  colo- 
nists,) is  perhaps  unexceptionable  ;  but  there  is 
surely  some  degree  of  error,  in  describing  it  as  ex- 
isting to  the  present  time  with  little  alteration  ; 
that  is,  as  essentially  adopted  and  perpetuated  in 
the  royal  charter.  I  pass  over  the  bold  and  ori- 
ginal scheme  of  constitutional  revolution,  detail- 
ed in  the  fifth  article,  and  wholly  omitted  in  the 
charter,  and  dwell  only  on  what  relates  to  the 
elective  franchise,  the  topic,  the  illustration  of 
which  I  have  more  especially  in  view ;  and  which, 
under  a  government  wholly  or  in  part  elective, 
is  of  all  others  the  most  important  to  the  sub- 
ject. 

It  is  observed,  by  the  industrious  and  merito- 
rious editors  of  the  Statutes  of  Connecticut,  that 
"  The  elective  franchise  has  been  restricted,  in 
"  some  degree,  from  the  first  establishment  of 
"  the  government.  The  constitution,"  they 

*  Ibid.  Book  I.  Ch.  VI.  page  97. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  ~\ 

add,  "  adopted  by  *  the  inhabitants  and  residents 
"  «  of  Windsor,  Hartford,  and  Wethersfield,' 
"  on  the  14th  of  January,  1639,  provided,  that 
"  the  choice  of  civil  officers  should  be  made  by 
"  all  that  were  admitted  freemen,  and  had  taken 
"  the  oath  of  fidelity,  and  cohabited  within  this 
"  jurisdiction,  having  been  admitted  inhabitants 
"  by  the  major  part  of  the  town  wherein  they  live, 
"  or  the  major  part  of  such  as  were  then  pre- 
"  sent." 

This  citation  is  correct ;  but  it  appears  to  have 
escaped,  as  well  the  editors  of  the  Statutes,  as  the 
author  of  the  Complete  History,  that  we  have  here 
but  a  part  of  what  is  to  be  found  in  the  constitu- 
tion of  1639,  in  regard  to  the  elective  franchise. 

The  historian  goes  so  far  as  to  tell  us,  that  un- 
der this  constitution,  "  the  constables  of  the 
"  respective  towns  were  obliged  to  warn  all  the 
"freemen  to  elect  and  send  their  deputies ;"  but, 
upon  a  recurrence  to  the  seventh  article,  it  will 
instantly  be  seen,  that  as  to  the  election  of 
deputies,  there  was  vested  no  exclusive  fran- 
chise in  the  freemen.  The  deputies  must  be 
freemen,  but  the  electors  might  be  only  admitted 
inhabitants.  Instead  of  warn  all  the  freemen,  the 
words  are  these — give  notice  distinctly  to  the  in- 
habitants. As  to  the  civil  or  public  officers,  they 
were  to  be  elected  by  the  freemen.  The  first 
alteration,  therefore,  that  presents  itself,  is  the  re- 


72  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PAJil 

duction,  effected  by  the  charter,  of  two  classes  of 
electors  into  one ;  or  the  exclusion  of  the  non- 
freemen  from  the  elective  franchise.  We  are  to 
attribute  this  reduction  to  the  charter ;  for  though 
the  provisions  of  an  act  of  1659,  in  regard  to  the 
making  of  freemen,  are  cited  by  the  editors  of 
the  statutes,  immediately  after  those  of  the  con- 
stitution, there  is  in  reality  nothing  shown  to  con- 
nect these  new  provisions  with  the  question  of 
the  elective  franchise.  They  relate  entirely  to  the 
making  of  freemen  ;  but  it  appears,  that  by  the 
constitution,  the  franchise  was  not  exclusively  in 
the  freemen  ;  and  no  shadow  of  evidence  is  of- 
fered, that  the  investiture  of  the  franchise  was  in 
any  degree  modified,  between  the  date  of  the  con- 
stitution and  that  of  the  charter.  It  is  in  the  char- 
ter, that  for  the  first  time,  we  find  the  franchise 
limited  to  the  freemen. 

According  to  the  historian,  the  constitution 
provided,  that  "  all  persons  who  had  been  re- 
"  ceived  as  members  of  the  several  towns,  by  a 
"  majority  of  the  inhabitants,  and  had  taken  the 
"  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  commonwealth,  should 
"  be  admitted  freemen  of  the  colony ;"  but  we 
look  in  vain  for  this  provision,  in  the  instrument 
itself.  The  existence  of  such  a  provision  would 
have  identified  the  admitted  inhabitants  with  the 
admitted  freemen,  a  measure  obviously  not  con- 
templated by  the  constitution  ;  and,  from  what 
1 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  73 

follows,  it  will  appear,  that  the  limitation  of  the 
franchise  to  freemen,  was,  in  its  operation,  a  much 
more  serious  restriction,  than  at  a  cursory  view 
we  should  imagine. 

By  the  seventh  article  of  the  constitution,  the 
franchise  was  allowed  to  every  man,  on  two 
conditions  only  ;  that  he  was  an  admitted  inhabi- 
tant, and  that  he  had  taken  the  oath  of  fidelity. 

A  little  reflection  will  convince  us,  that  with 
respect  to  that  posterity,  to  which,  as  we  have 
seen  it  observed,  this  constitution  exhibited  so 
benevolent  a  regard,  these  two  conditions  would 
have  reduced  themselves  into  a  single  one, 
namely,  that  of  taking  the  oath  of  fidelity.  To 
understand  the  true  signification  of  the  phrase 
admitted  inhabitants.,  and  that  temporary  opera- 
tion which  alone  it  could  constitutionally  have 
claimed,  we  must  consider  the  situation  of  Con- 
necticut, in  the  year  1639. 

The  first  adventurers  had  arrived  only  in  1635 
or  1634.  They  consisted  of  adults  and  children, 
none  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  soil.  They 
commencedtheir  settlements  in  virtue  of  purchase 
and  permission  of  the  Indians.  They  formed 
new  communities,  in  which  none  had  any  rights 
except  themselves.  All  was  theirs.  It  was  theirs 
to  sell  or  to  refuse  to  sell  their  lands  to  such 
under-purchasers  as  they  thought  jit,  and  on  such 

VOL.  i.  K 


74,  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

terms  as  they  thought  fit.  They  were  free  to 
exclude  all  new  adventurers,  if  they  thought  fit, 
and  to  admit  them  in  all  respects  as  they  thought 

Jit.  He,  therefore,  whom  they  admitted  to  be 
an  inhabitant,  became  an  admitted  inhabitant  ; 
and  he,  whom  they  admitted  to  the  freedom,  be- 
came a  freeman.  Time,  however,  ought  to 
have  produced  a  new  state  of  things.  Children 
were  bom  of  these  admitted  inhabitants  ;  they 
were  natives  of  the  soil ;  and  it  is  preposterous, 
in  regard  of  them,  to  talk  of  admitted  and  unad- 
mitted inhabitants,  lawful  and  unlawful :  their 
birth  gave  them  admission,  and  made  their  habi- 
tation lawful.  These  children,  therefore,  this 

'posterity,  must  have  inherited,  under  the  con- 
stitution of  1639,  the  elective  franchise,  as  it  re- 
spected the  deputies,  on  the  single  condition  of 
taking  the  oath  of  fidelity.  They  were  not  born 
freemen  of  the  towns ;  but  non-freemen  were 
thus  privileged. 

Under  what  restrictions,  or  upon  what  condi- 
tions, new  adventurers,  at  the  date  of  the  consti- 
tution, were  admitted  to  be  freemen,  we  are  in 
reality  uninformed ;  but,  in  1662,  this  admis- 
sion was  guarded  by  several  restrictions.* 

*  The  editors  of  the  Statutes,  in  their  note,  at  page 

„  356,  assert,   that  the  qualities  of  an  orderly,  peaceable 

and  good  conversation,  had  never  been  dispensed  with. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  75 

"  In  March,  1659,  an  act  of  the  general  court 
"  provided,  that  none  should  be  presented  to  be 
"  made  freemen,  or  have  the  privilege  of  freemen 
"  conferred  upon  them,  until  they  had  fulfilled 
"  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  had  30/.  of 
"  proper  personal  estate,  or  had  borne  office  in  the 
"  commonwealth;  and  such  persons,  so  qualified, 
"  and  being  men  of  an  honest  and  peaceable  con- 
"  versation,  should  be  presented,  in  an  orderly 
"  way,  to  the  general  court,  in  October,  yearly, 
"  to  prevent  tumult  and  trouble  at  the  court  of 
"  election." 

We  see,  therefore,  that  to  confine  the  elective 
franchise  to  the  freemen,  as  was  done  by  the 
charter,  was  to  superadd,  to  the  single  restriction 
that  affected  the  generation  that  had  grown  up 
under  the  constitution,  the  several  restrictions 
that  were  thus  laid  upon  the  admission  to  freedom ; 
iind  what  is  much  more,  it  was  wholly  to  take 
away  the  franchise,  as  a  right  of  birth. 

It  was  in  1662,  that  the  finishing  stroke  was 
put  to  the  restrictions  on  the  grant  of  the  elective 
franchise  ;  for  it  was  then  made  necessary,  not 
only  to  be  qualified,  but  to  obtain  a  certificate  of 
qualification,  before  tf\efreedo?n  of  the  corpora- 


This  is  highly  jirobable  ;  but  it  does  not  appear  that  they 
a.re  entitled  to  say  more.  They  produce  no  provisiew 
of  the  kind,  of  a  date  earlier  than  1659. 


76  TliAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

tion  could  be  demanded  :  "In  October,  1662, 
"  that  act  [the  act  of  1659]  was  superseded  by 
"  the  following  :  '  This  assembly  doth  order, 
"  '  that,  for  the  future,  such  as  desire  to  be 
"  '  admitted  freemen  of  this  corporation  shall 
"  '  present  themselves,  with  a  certificate  under 
"  '  the  hands  of  the  major  part  of  the  townsmen 
"  '  [selectmen]  where  they  live,  that  they  are 
"  '  persons  of  a  civil,  peaceable,  and  honest  con- 
"  '  versation,  and  that  they  have  attained  the  age 
"  '  of  twenty*- one  years,  and  have  20/.  estate, 
"  *  besides  their  person,  in  the  list  of  estates  : 
"  *  And  that  every  person  so  qualified  to  the 
"  '  court's  approbation,  shall  be  presented  at 
"  '  October  court,  yearly,  or  some  adjourned 
"  '  court,  and  admitted,  after  the  election,  at  the 
"  '  assembly  in  May.'  " 

When  we  consider,  that  in  so  far  as  regards 
the  election  of  deputies,  the  elective  franchise, 
under  the  constitution  of  1639,  was  vested  in  the 
non-freemen  equally  with  the  freemen,  to  be  en- 
joyed of  right,  and  subject  to  no  man's  plea- 
sure, on  the  single  condition,  as  to  natives  of 
the  soil,  of  the  oath  of  fidelity  ;  and  when  we 
contrast  this  provision  with  the  effect  of  that 
which  confines  the  franchise  to  freemen,  we 
must  allow  that  that  constitution  can  scarcely  be 
said  to  have  continued  to  the  present  day,  with 
little  alteration. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  -j-? 

As  to  the  loss  of  the  elective  franchise,  a  cir- 
cumstance which  places  the  liberties  of  the  sub- 
ject in  another  and  very  important  light,  it  is  obser- 
vable, that  the  change  in  the  constitution  has  pro- 
duced no  change  in  this.  Disfranchisement  was 
held  forth,  as  a  criminal  punishment,  so  early  as 
1646.  It  was  again  enacted  in  1662  ;  and, 
after  various  revisions,  it  is  found  among  the 
existing  statutes :  "  In  April,  1646,  it  was  en- 
"  acted,  that  if  any  person,  within  the  liberties, 
"  had  been,  or  should  be,  fined  or  whipped  for 
"  any  scandalous  offence,  he  should  not  be  ad- 
"  mitted,  after  such  time,  to  have  any  vote  in 
"  town,  or  commonwealth,  until  the  court  should 
"  manifest  their  satisfaction.  A  subsequent  act, 
"  passed  in  October,  1662,  contained  the  fol- 
"  lowing  section :  '  And  in  case  any  freeman 
"  '  shall  walk  scandalously,  or  commit  any  scan- 
"  '  dalous  offence,  and  be  legally  convicted 
"  *  thereof,  he  shall  be  disfranchised,  by  any  of 
"  '  the  civil  courts.'  "*  By  the  existing  statute, 
already  cited,  "  if  any  freeman  of  this  state  shall 
"  walk  scandalously,  or  commit  any  scandalous 
"  offence,  it  shall  be  in  the  power  of  the  supe- 
"  rior  court  in  this  state,  on  complaint  thereof  to 
"  them  made,  to  disfranchise  such  freeman ; 
"  who  shall  stand  disfranchised,  till  by  his  good 

*  Statutes  of  Connecticut,  p.  358. 


78          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  behaviour  the  said  superior  court  shall  see 
"  cause  to  restore  him  to  his  franchisement  or 
"  freedom  again ;  which  the  said  court  is  em- 
"  powered  to  do." 

We  see,  that  under  the  original  provision,  a 
man  could  be  disfranchised  only  in  consequence 
of  previous  conviction  of  some  scandalous  of- 
fence, and  of  the  actual  infliction  of  the  punish- 
ment consequent  on  conviction.  Under  the 
second  form,  it  was  sufficient  that  there  had  been 
a  conviction,  though  the  punishment  should 
have  been  remitted;  or  even  that  there  was  a 
walking  scandalously,  without  conviction  of  any 
scandalous  offence.  Under  the  existing  code, 
neither  the  fact  of  punishment,  nor  the  fact  of 
conviction,  is  necessary  ;  but,  "  if  any  freeman 
"  shall  walk  scandalously,  or  commit  any  scan- 
"  dalous  offence,  it  shall  be  in  the  power  of  the 
"  superior  court,  on  complaint  thereof,  to  dis- 
"  franchise  such  freeman."  Among  the  many 
reflections  to  which  this  language  is  proper  to 
give  birth,  it  cannot  escape  us,  that  by  the  act 
of  1662,  it  was  said,  the  freeman  shall  be  dis- 
franchised;  but,  by  the  present,  it  is  not  that  the 
superior  court  shall  disfranchise,  but  only  that  it 
shall  be  in  its  power  to  disfranchise.  As  to  the 
words  scandalous  and  scandalously,  standing 
alone,  as  we  now  see  them,  they  may  be  taken 
in  much  latitude  of  meaning. 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES.  79 

Looking  back,  in  conclusion,  to  the  Constitu- 
tion of  1639,  we  shall  now  perceive,  under  still 
other  aspects,  that  in  no  shape  can  it  be  said  to 
exist,  with  little,  nor  without  essential  altera- 
tion, in  the  Constitution  of  the  Charter.  We 
have  seen  the  general  assembly  reassume,  under 
the  charter,  that  title  of  supreme  power  in  the 
commonwealth,  with  which,  under  the  style  of 
a  general  court,  it  had  by  the  former  consti- 
tution been  invested.  But,  the  circumstances 
were  now  widely  different ;  for  the  general  court 
had  been  composed  of  the  deputies  of  the  free- 
men, and  non-freemen  indiscriminately  ;  and  the 
general  assembly  was  composed  of  the  deputies 
of  the  freemen  exclusively.  To  assume  su- 
preme power  for  the  assembly,  was  therefore  to 
deprive  the  non-freemen  of  every  thing  which 
they  had  enjoyed  under  the  constitution  of  1639. 

Even  to  the  forming  of  that  constitution  they 
had  been  parties  ;  for,  though  the  editors  of  the 
statutes  represent  that  instrument  as  made  and 
adopted  by  the  free  planters,  and  though  a  si- 
milar language  is  used  by  the  historian,  Dr. 
Trumbull ;  yet,  on  reference  to  the  paper  it- 
self, we  find  the  framers  assuming  only  the  more 
comprehensive  description  of  inhabitants  and  re- 
sidents ;  while  the  existence  and  respective  pre- 
tensions of  two  classes  of  residents  and  inhabi- 
tants, that  is,  of  freemen  and  non-freemen,  is 


g0          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

established  by  the  provisions  framed.  That 
there  was  no  such  distinction ;  that  inhabitant 
and  free  planter  were  synonymous  terms,  is 
what  we  might  more  readily  have  supposed ; 
but,  that  there  was,  is  matter  of  history. 
Why  persons  were  admitted  inhabitants,  who 
were  not  admitted  freemen,  is  to  be  explained 
by  the  consideration,  that  the  two  kinds  of  admis- 
sion were  grounded  on  different  principles.  It 
was  desirable  to  the  leading  adventurers,  that 
the  number  of  inhabitants  should  be  increased, 
for  the  general  advancement  of  the  colony,  and 
more  particularly  for  its  defence  ;  meanwhile, 
they  also  desired  to  retain  the  government 
in  their  own  hands,  from  motives  temporal  and 
spiritual  :  as,  in  the  later  colony  of  Newhaven, 
it  was  established,  that  no  man  should  be  a  free 
burgess  or  freeman,  except  only  the  members  of 
the  church.  In  Connecticut,  there  were  two 
very  different  classes  of  settlers  ;  those  who  had 
left  Europe  for  the  sake  of  indulging  in  their  re- 
ligious peculiarities,  and  those  who  had  come 
with  nothing  else  in  view,  than  the  trade  in 
hemp  and  furs.  The  seventh  article  of  the  con- 
stitution may  therefore  be  regarded  as  agreed  to 
by  all  the  residents  and  inhabitants,  as  a  mea- 
sure of  conciliation  and  reciprocal  advantage ; 
the  elective  franchise  was  in  part  allowed  to  the 

non-freemen ;  but  the  deputies  chosen  were  to 
o 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  gj 

be  freemen.  The  freemen  were  strictly  a  no- 
bility, and  the  non-freemen  were  the  people. 
Of  the  numerical  proportion  of  the  two  classes 
to  each  other,  I  find  no  account ;  but  the  total 
number  of  inhabitants  and  residents,  in  1639,  has 
been  already  stated  at  eight  hundred.  I  am 
equally  uninformed  as  to  the  existing  propor- 
tion ;  that  is  to  say,  of  the  proportion  which  the 
number  of  the  non-freemen  of  Connecticut,  be- 
ing of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  bears  to  the 
whole  number  of  the  male  population.  I  be- 
lieve, however,  that  it  is  small. 

Under  the  present  view,  it  becomes  explicable, 
why  the  choice  of  the  public  officers,  which  is 
given,  in  the  first  article,  to  the  freemen,  is  also 
limited,  by  the  same  article,  to  those  freemen,  not 
only  who  had  taken  the  oath  of  fidelity,  and  resided 
within  the  jurisdiction,  but  to  those  who  had  been 
admitted  inhabitants,  by  the  major  part  of  the 
towns  in  which  they  respectively  lived.  In  this, 
we  see  the  care  of  the  non-freemen,  to  protect 
themselves  against  the  effects  of  a  very  easy  fraud 
on  the  part  of  the  freemen  ;  for,  as  the  freemen 
could  always  make  freemen,  they  could,  but  for 
these  provisions,  at  any  time  have  governed  an 
election,  by  making  freemen  of  strangers,  and  of 
such  as  were  refused  to  be  admitted  to  be  inha- 
bitants by  the  respective  towns.  As  to  the  con- 
cluding member  of  the  sentence,  "  or  the  major 

VOL.    I.  L 


g2          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  part  of  such  as  shall  then  be  present,"  it  im- 
plies, if  grammatically  taken,  that  persons  might 
nevertheless  be  admitted  inhabitants  of  the 
towns,  by  the  major  part  of  the  freemen  then 
present  at  the  court  of  the  election ;  a  provision 
which  goes  to  defeat  the  former,  in  regard  to  the 
liberties  of  the  non-freemen.  We  have  our 
choice,  however,  in  giving  it  this  interpretation, 
which  is  grammatical  but  not  probable,  or  this 
other,  which  is  probable  but  not  grammatical: — 
That  the  freemen,  capable  of  voting,  must  be 
such  as  had  been  admitted  inhabitants  by  the 
major  part  of  the  town  in  which  they  lived,  or 
by  the  major  part  of  the  town,  or  inhabitants  of 
the  town,  present  at  their  admission  ;  a  regula- 
tion in  conformity  with  which  is  the  modern 
practice  of  the  towns. 

The  constitution  of  1639  may  be  traced  in 
some  minute  particulars  of  the  modern  system, 
of  which  it  affords  the  only  illustration.  We  see, 
here,  why  the  second  Tuesday  in  May  is  called 
the  eleption-day,  though  the  election  is  really  held 
a  month  before.  We  see,  that  the  election  was 
originally  performed  at  a  court  of  election,  as- 
sembled annually  on  the  second  Thursday  in 
April. 

The  charter,  which  takes  no  notice  of  a  court, 
by  the  name  of  a  court  of  election,  alters  the 
time  of  meeting  from  April  to  May  ;  and  there  is 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES.  33 

perhaps  no  record  of  this  alteration,  earlier  than 
the  charter.  The  name  court  of  election  ap- 
pears to  be  now  wholly  obsolete,  and  unknown 
to  the  statute-book,  except  in  the  single  section 
of  the  act,  which,  borrowing  the  words  of  the 
Constitution  of  1639,  defines  the  powers  of  the 
general  court. 

We  find  also  in  this  instrument,  the  origin  of 
that  confusion  in  the  names  of  general  court  and 
general  assembly.  Court  is  the  term  affected  by 
the  Constitution  of  1639,  and  assembly  is  used 
preferably  in  the  charter.  Moreover,  the  earlier 
acts  had  been  described  as  enacted  in  general 
court,  and  the  practice  was  continued. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Connecticut — Wethersfield — Middletown. 

IN  my  journey  to  Hartford,  I  passed  through 
a  country,  of  part  of  which  I  shall  find  another 
occasion  to  speak.  Into  the  other  part  I  very 
shortly  returned. 

Four  miles  below  the  city  of  Hartford  is 
Wethersfield,  once  called  Watertown.  This 
is  one  of  the  three  oldest  settlements  on 
the  river,  of  which  the  two  others  are  Hartford 


84          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

and  Windsor.  It  is,  indeed,  related,  that  the 
very  earliest  colonists  (consisting  of  a  few  men, 
without  their  families)  passed  a  winter  in  huts, 
within  the  limits  of  Wethersfield,  called,  by  the 
Indians  or  native  inhabitants,  Piquaug  or  Pe- 
queag,*  in  the  year  1634.  Wethersfield  after- 
ward became  the  hive  from  which  several  other 
towns  were  settled. 

A  favourable  soil  has  enabled  Wethersfield  to 
acquire  much  wealth  by  the  culture  of  a  particu- 
lar vegetable — the  onion,  of  which  it  exports 
large  quantities.  The  culture,  which  is  of  real 
magnitude,  is  chiefly,  from  the  moderate  labour 
that  it  requires,  abandoned  to  the  women  and 
girls.  All  edifices,  in  this  county,  whether  pri- 
vate or  public,  are  for  the  most  part  of  wood ; 
but  Wethersfield  has  a  church  built  of  brick ; 
and  strangers  are  facetiously  told,  that  it  was 
built  with  onions.  On  explanation,  it  is  said, 
that  it  was  built  at  the  cost  of  the  female  part 
of  the  community,  and  out  of  the  profits  of 
their  agriculture.  In  passing  through  Wethers- 
field, I  saw  two  little  girls  hoeing  onions,  while 
a  boy  of  nine  or  ten  years  of  age  held  the  plough, 
which  was  drawn  by  a  yoke  of  oxen. 

The  fair  onion-growers  unite  with  their  indus- 
try a  laudable  care  of  their  beauty  ;  and  the  gay 

*  Also  written  Paiujuog.     Piquaug  or  Piqidag  seem* 
to  signify  no  more  than  the  water  side. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  35 

as  well  as  fashionable  clothes,  in  which  they  ap- 
pear on  Sundays  and  other  suitable  occasions, 
are  not  unnoticed  by  their  neighbours.  In  the 
field,  their  dress,  which  is  contrived  for  protecting 
them  from  the  sun,  often  disguises  every  linea- 
ment of  the  human  figure.  ' 

Wethersfield  affords  all  the  common  produc- 
tions of  the  country  ;  but  onions  are  its  staple ; 
and  habits  of  indolence  are  said  to  obtain 
among  the  men. 

The  road  through  Wethersfield  is  excellent. 
From  Rocky  Hill,  there  is  a  wide  and  enchant- 
ing prospect,  stretching  over  meadows  and 
fields,  watered  by  the  Connecticut.  To  the 
north,  in  the  distance,  is  a  mountain,  called 
Mount  Tom.  At  Rocky  Hill,  the  fabric  of  a 
new  church  or  meeting-house  is  begun. 

Adjoining  Wethersfield,  and  still  lower  down 
the  river,  is  Middletown.  This  town  is  one  of 
the  largest  in  the  state,  and  contains  a  city  of  its 
own  name.  The  city  is  about  two  miles  in 
length,  and  though  less  peopled  than  Hart- 
ford, presents  the  appearance  of  a  handsome 
village.  It  was  incorporated  in  1784,  and  has  a 
mayor,  aldermen  and  other  municipal  officers. 
The  act  of  incorporation  further  establishes  a 
city-court ;  and  enables  the  mayor,  aldermen,  com- 
mon council  and  freemen  to  purchase,  hold  and 
convey  any  estate,  real  or  personal ;  and  the 


gg         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

mayor,  aldermen  and  common  council,  in  com- 
mon council,  to  make  by-laws,  regarding  police, 
commerce  and  the  government  of  the  port. 
The  acts  of  the  common  council  are  not  of 
force,  unless  approved  by  the  freemen  in  city 
meeting ;  and  they  may  be  annulled  by  the  su- 
perior court,  if  considered  by  that  tribunal  to 
be  unjust  or  unreasonable.  The  law  is  silent 
upon  the  subject  of  admission  to  the  freedom 
of  the  city,  leaving  that  question  to  the  city 
itself. 

The  prosperity  of  the  city  depends  upon  its 
commerce,  for  which  pursuit  it  is  in  some  re- 
spects better  situated  than  Hartford.  Hartford, 
as  being  at  the  extreme  height  of  the  ship  navi- 
gation, has  more  advantages,  as  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  country  market ;  but  vessels  can- 
not pass  Middletown  with  their  full  lading.  At 
Middletown,  there  is  ten,  or  even  twelve  feet 
water,  in  the  channel ;  and  ships  of  three  hun- 
dred tons  burden  may  be  loaded  and  unloaded 
at  the  wharfs.  Middletown  has  therefore  the 
more  commodious  port.  Its  distance  from  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  including  the  windings, 
and  reckoning  from  Saybrook  Bar,  is  thirty 
miles.  The  river  is  here  about  half  a  mile  in 
breadth. 

Ship-building  is  carried  on  to  some  extent  in 
Middletown.  In  1785,  thirty  vessels  sailed 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  gy 

from  this  port.  The  trade  is  at  present  larger, 
though,  from  the  increased  number  of  traders, 
no  single  individual  does  so  much  business  as 
formerly.  The  increase  of  trade  was  for  several 
years  interrupted,  partly  by  misfortunes  which 
befel  the  merchants  or  traders,  and  partly  by  the 
ill  character  which  they  suffered  themselves  to 
acquire  in  the  country  round.  About  the  year 
1795,  a  mania  for  land- speculation  seized  the 
United  States  throughout ;  and  the  speculators 
of  Middletown  were  as  unfortunate  as  a  large 
proportion  of  the  rest.  While  this  calamity 
diminished  their  means,  the  farmers  impeached 
their  honesty,  accusing  them  of  unfair  dealing ; 
or  as  their  phrase  is,  of  jockeying.  The  trade 
was  in  consequence  transferred  to  Hartford ;  but 
Middletown  is  said  to  be  fast  recovering,  alike 
its  commerce,  its  reputation  and  its  wealth. 

In  1797,  the  city  was  said  to  contain  three 
hundred  houses,  and  I  believe  that  the  num- 
ber is  now  scarcely  greater.  There  are  two 
villages  or  towns,  at  the  distance  of  two  miles 
from  each  other,  and  respectively  called  the 
Lower  Houses  and  the  Upper  Houses ;  but  the 
Upper  Houses  constitute  a  suburb.  They  are 
inhabited  chiefly  by  the  families  of  masters  of 
vessels,  and  other  seafaring  persons.  Between 
the  Lower  Houses,  or  city,  and  the  Upper 
Houses,  a  river  falls  into  the  Connecticut,  call- 


S8 

ed  the  little  river,  and   sometimes  the  Ferry- 
river,  over  which  there  is  at  present  a  bridge. 

Within  the  city,  there  are  two  churches,  of 
which  one  belongs  to  the  congregationalists  or 
independents,  which  is  the  sect  prevalent  in 
Connecticut ;  and  one  to  the  members  of  the 
church  of  England,  here  called  episcopalians. 
As  being  the  county-town  of  the  county  of 
Middlesex,  Middletown  contains  a  court-house  ; 
and,  as  a  port  of  entry,  it  has  a  naval  offi- 
cer and  custom-house.  There  is  a  town-libra- 
ry, but  no  public  school,  except  the  district- 
schools  of  the  town. 

The  town  is  divided  into  valuable  farms, 
and  presents,  in  every  direction,  luxuriant  land- 
scapes. Wheat,  of  which  the  success  is  very 
uncertain  in  these  countries,  and  which  suffers 
greatly  from  the  Hessian  fly,  is  grown  in  small 
quantities.  The  more  general  crops  are  buck- 
wheat, rye,  flax,  and  especially  Indian  corn  or 
maize,  on  which  is  the  chief  dependence  of  the 
farmer.  Sheep  are  to  be  met  with  on  every 
farm,  but  never  in  large  flocks.  The  usual 
number  is  from  fifteen  to  twenty-five.  There 
is  neither  shepherd,  nor  shepherding  in  this  part 
of  America,  nor  shepherd's  dogs.  The  Merino 
blood  is  in  request,  and  spreading ;  but,  whe- 
ther or  not  this  is  the  sheep  best  adapted  to 
these  countries,  there  are  judges  who  dispute.  , 
i 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  59 

The  wool  and  flax  are  manufactured  on  the 
farm  where  they  are  raised  ;  except  that  they  are 
carried  abroad  to  be  carded,  fulled  and  dyed.  I 
was  told,  that  there  is  no  dyer  in  Connecticut 
who  understands  the  secret  of  communicating 
to  cloth  a  fixed  blue  dye. 

The  lands,  stretching  from  the  hills,  called  the 
Turkey  Hills,  through  Windsor,  Middletown 
and  Durham,  are  remarkable  for  their  fertility. 

The  city  of  Middletown  is  seated  on  a  declivi- 
ty, on  the  west  side  of  the  river  ;  but  the  houses 
are  chiefly  near  the  water.  The  surrounding  up- 
lands display  a  rich  combination  of  wood  and  pas- 
ture. To  the  north-west,  the  country  is  diversi- 
fied by  wide  and  verdant  meadows,  forming  the 
margin  of  the  little  river,  and  indeed  of  the  Con- 
necticut itself.  Here,  in  the  spring,  an  annual 
flood  inundates  the  whole  surface,  interrupting 
all  communication,  except  by  boats,  and  fre- 
quently destroying  the  bridges  and  mills.  The 
rise  of  water  is  occasioned  by  the  rains,  and  by 
melting  of  the  snow  ;  and  this  inundation,  partly 
by  the  lowness  of  the  level  of  the  soil,  and  partly 
by  an  interruption  of  the  course  of  the  Connec- 
ticut, which  takes  place  at  three  miles  below  the 
city. 

At  this  spot,  the  river  forces  its  way  through 
a  range  of  mountains,  called  in  the  country  the 

VOL.    I.  M 


90  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

Eastern  Range,  by  a  pass,  in  some  places  not  more 
than  forty  rods  in  width,  and  called  the  Straits, 
k  is  a  spot  of  some  interest,  for  its  picturesque 
beauty,  for  its  mineral  treasures,  and  even  for 
its  civil  history. 

A  mile  or  two  above  the  city,  on  the  opposite 
bank,  is  a  quarry  of  free-stone,  of  a  coarse  gar- 
net-coloured grit,  commonly  called  Connecticut- 
stone.  The  quarry  is  constantly  wrought ;  and 
on  the  Middletown  side  is  a  mine  of  cobalt, 
which  was  for  some  years  in  possession  of  a 
company  of  foreigners,  who  exported  the  pro- 
duce to  Amsterdam.  This,  however,  as  well 
as  a  lead-mine  in  the  Straits,  is  now  neglect- 
ed. The  latter  was  wrought  during  the  rebel- 
lion, and  was  then  tolerably  productive ;  and 
it  is  thought,  that  with  greater  skill,  and  conse- 
quent economy,  in  the  fusion  of  the  ore,  it  might 
even  now  be  rendered  profitable. 

In  respect  of  civil  history,  I  allude  to  a  band 
of  robbers,  which,  for  some  years  prior  to  1792, 
committed  extensive  spoliations,  and  was  at 
length  discovered  to  have  its  retreat  in  some 
caverns  in  these  mountains.  The  foundation  of  a 
powerful  banditti  had  been  laid ;  the  offenders 
not  only  sheltering  themselves  in  these  wilds, 
but  having  brought  into  them  their  wives  and 
children.  I  must  subjoin,  that  their  career,  so 


OF  THK   I/NITKI)  STATIC  9^ 

far  as  I  have  learned,   was  marked  by  no  act  of 
extraordinary  atrocity. 

Connected  with  the  situation  of  this  range  of 
mountains,  and  the  passage  which  the  river  has 
obtained  through  them,  is  a  phenomenon  observed 
in  the  town  opposite  to  Middletown,  of  which  the 
name  is  Chatham.  Here,  a  considerable  tract  of 
coarse  sandy  soil  presents  an  undulating  surface, 
sunk  into  circular  and  bason-like  hollows,  of 
greater  or  less  diameter,  or  raised  into  hemis- 
pherical mounds.  Job's  Pond,  a  small  lake, 
occupies  one  of  the  hollows  ;  and  this  lake  ap- 
pears to  be  the  remains  of  a  larger  one,  of  which 
the  sandy  region  described  has  been  the  bed. 
Before  the  river  obtained  its  present  outlet 
among  the  mountains,  and  when  its  stream  was 
of  much  greater  volume  than  now,  its  annual 
floods  must  have  stretched  much  wider  than  at 
present,  and  its  ordinary  level  must  have  been 
much  higher.  Arrested  by  the  Eastern  R-.inge, 
the  stream  spread  itself  into  a  lake.  The  stream 
has  since  by  slow  degrees  subsided  ;  and  of  the 
lake,  robbed  of  all  foreign  resources,  nothing  re- 
mains, but  what  is  within  the  limits  of  Job's  Pond. 
There,  there  are  still  the  native  springs,  which  an- 
ciently united  their  water  with  those  of  the  river. 
The  hollows  and  mounds  which  diversify  the  sur- 
face, hollows  and  mounds  now  alike  covered  with 
grain,  attest  the  eddies  and  counter-currents  of 


92          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

the  stream  by  which  the  one  was  sunk,  and  the 
other  raised.  Phenomenons  of  a  similar  kind  are 
to  be  met  with  on  the  upper  banks  of  the  Con- 
necticut ;  and  every- where  a  thousand  facts  de- 
clare the  ancient  elevation  of  the  water.  Those 
inundations,  which  now  yearly  occur  in  minia- 
ture>  occurred  in  remote  ages  on  a  gigantic  scale. 

Other  observers,  however,  attribute  the  con- 
figuration of  the  surface,  in  Chatham,  to  volcanic 
causes. 

Middletown  dates  its  foundation  in  1650  or 
1651,  and  it  received  its  name  by  statute  in 
1653.*  The  Indians,  or  original  inhabitants, 
were  at  that  period  very  numerous  here.  The 
site  of  the  present  city  was  occupied  by  a  vil- 
lage called  Matabesec.f  When  the  English 
became  acquainted  with  it,  the  name  of  the 
reigning  chief  was  Sowheag  or  Sowheage,  and 
his  nation  was  spread  over,  not  only  Matabe- 
sec,  but  Piquaug  or  Wethersfield,  and  other  parts 
of  the  surrounding  country.  The  village  stood 
on  the  high  ground,  now  called  the  upper  street, 
and  was  defended  by  a  ditch  and  palisade.  Stone 
axes,  arrow-heads,  and  fragments  of  pottery,  the 
workmanship  of  the  Indians,  are  frequently  found 
in  this  and  the  adjacent  lands,  and  particularly  on 

*  TrutnbulFs  History  of  Connecticut, 
t  This  word  is  variously  spelt.     I  have  wished  to  use- 
the  fewest  letters. 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES.  93 

a  neighbouring  hill  or  mountain,  called  Indian 
Mountain. 

The  soil  was  purchased  of  the  Indians.  In 
1673,  the  number  of  shares  was  fixed  at  fifty- 
two  ;  and  this,  at  that  period,  was  the  number 
of  householders  within  the  town.  The  more 
notable  of  these  were  either  from  England  direct, 
or  else  from  the  upper  towns  of  Wethersfield 
and  Hartford.  Several,  however,  were  from 
Rowley,  Chelmsford  and  Woburn  in  Massachu- 
setts.* 

Among  those  who  accompanied  or  followed 
Dr.  Priestley  to  the  United  States,  were  several 
families  which  chose  Middletown  for  their  new 
residence  ;  but,  nearly  all  of  them  fell  into  mis- 
fortunes here,  and  all  have  returned  to  Europe, 

with  the  exception  of  one,  that  of Watkin- 

son,  esquire. 

This  place  is  the  residence  of  Mr.  Dana,  the 
member  of  congress,  and  of  Mr.  Richard  Alsop, 
the  translator  of  Molina's  History  of  Chili,  a 
work  lately  printed  in  Connecticut,  and  since  in 
London.  Mr.  Alsop  is  one  of  the  few  gentle- 
men, in  these  countries,  to  whom  fortune  has  in- 
dulged, or  taste  endeared,  the  rural  life  com- 
bined with  literary  leisure.  Besides  the  transla- 
tion already  mentioned,  Mr.  Alsop  has  produced 

*  Trumbull's  History  of  Connecticut. 


y|,  TKAVKLS THROUGH  PART 

many  original  compositions  in  verse,  and  is  par- 
ticularly read  in  the  works  of  the  Spanish  and 
Italian  poets,  and  the  Northern  bards.  There 
are  in  this  city  several  other  inhabitants  of  par- 
ticular respectability. 

Middletown  has  a  public  walk,  but  it  is  ill- 
kept  up  ;  nor  is  this  wonderful,  since  the  open 
country,  with  all  its  walks  and  rides,  is  still  #t  the 
door  of  every  inhabitant  of  the  infant  city.  Even 
the  burial-grounds,  in  the  centre  of  its  limits,  are 
still  country  church-yards  ;  and  to  them,  in  con- 
clusion, I  shall  lead  the  sentimental  reader,  rather 
than  to  the  alleys  of  the  city-promenade. 

So  much  do  ignorance  and  false  taste  pre- 
dominate among  mankind,  that  even  the  tombs 
are  every-where  remarkable,  more  frequent- 
ly for  traces  of  these  failings,  than  for  features 
of  a  happier  class  ; — the  tombs,  to  which  no 
form  of  folly  might  be  supposed  bold  enough 
to  approach  ;  where  thought  might  be  imagin- 
ed to  stand  collected  ;  and  where  the  heart  alone 
— the  heart,  grand  and  tender — might  seem  pri- 
vileged to  indite ! 

But,  the  heart  can  indite  only  through  the  me- 
dium of  the  tongue  ;  and  the  tongue  is  fashion- 
ed by  education.  Our  education  surrounds  us 
with  false  taste ;  and  even  robs  our  language, 
not  only  of  force,  but  of  precision  and  meaning. 


OK  THK  I;NITKI>  sr.vn.v  95 

Hence,  when  we  intend  to  be  serious,  our  tongue 
is  often  jocose  ;  and,  when  we  seek  to  be  grace- 
ful, it  is  often  grotesque.  Our  education  leads 
us  away  from  Nature  ;  and  our  endowments 
are  rarely  vigorous  enough  to  carry  us  back  to 
her,  laden,  as  we  ought  to  be,  with  the  spoils 
of  Art. 

The  following  epitaphs  are  examples  of  the 
ambiguous,  from  the  East  Burial-ground  or 
Grave-yard,  in  this  place  : 

"IN  memory  of  Mrs,  Desire, late  wife  of  Mr. 
"  Abner  Ely,  who  died  September  1st,  1764, 
"  aged  48  years  : 

"  A  loving  wife,  and  tender  mother, 

"  Left  this  base  world,  to  enjoy  the  other." 

"  DAN  Collens,  son  of  Jonathan  and  Mary 
"  Collens,  deed  May  ye  13,  1735,  in  the  8/// 
"  year  of  his  age: 

"  This  lovely  pleasant  child 

"  He  was  our  only  one  ; 

"  Altho'  we  have  buried  three  before, 

"  Two  daughters  and  a  son. 

"  God  give  us  grace,  with  Job,  to  say, 
"  The  Lord  doth  give,  and  take  a\\a\. 
"  And  blessed  be  hisnanle  for  avi-." 


96 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


I  pass  by  a  crowd  of  minor  effusions,  and 
whimsical  misspellings,  and  add  only  the  follow- 
ing, remarkable  chiefly  for  its  age,  and  for  the 
figurative  style  of  the  day  : 

"  HERE'S  a  cedar  tall,  gently  wafted  ore 

"  From  Great  Britain's  isle  to  this  western  shore : 

"  Near  fifty  years  crossing  the  ocean  wide, 

"  Yet's  anchored  in  this  grave  from  storm  or  tide  : 

"  Yet  remember  the  body  onely  here  ; 

"  His  blessed  soul  fixed«in  a  higher  sphere : 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Giles  Hamlin,  esquire, 
u  adged  67  years,  who  departed  this  life  the  first 
"  day  of  September,  ano  dom.  1682." 


CHAPTER   IX. 

Connecticut — Haddam — East  Haddam . 

IN  Hartford,  I  had  had  the  honour  of  being 
introduced  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Parsons,  a  clergy- 
man settled  in  East  Haddam,  and  to  Colonel 
Moseley,  a  representative  in  congress  for  the  state 
of  Connecticut,  and  an  inhabitant  of  the  same 
place ;  and  the  polite  invitations  of  both  these 
gentlemen  induced  me  to  take  an  early  opportu- 
nity of  making  a  visit  there. 

East  Haddam  lies  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Connecticut,  opposite  Haddam,  of  which  it 
formerly  composed  a  moiety  ;  for,  at  the  first  co- 
lonization, all  the  towns  on  the  Connecticut 
were  allowed  a  territory  of  equal  dimensions  on 
each  side  of  the  stream. 

Haddam  adjoins  Middletown,  and  its  princi- 
pal village  or  settlement  is  about  ten  miles  below 
the  city  of  Middletown,  and  eighteen  or  twenty 
above  the  mouth  of  the  river.  It  was  pur- 
chased of  the  Indians  in  1662,  and  is  called  the 
second  town  in  rank  in  the  county  of  Middle- 
sex. 

There  is  in  this,  as  in  almost  every  other  di- 
rection, a  turnpike-road  ;  for,  these  roads  being 

VOL.  i.  \- 


98 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


here  made  objects  of  private  gain,  and  not  as  in 
England,  of  merely  public  care,  they  are  esta- 
blished with  avidity,  on  the  smallest  prospect  of 
advantage.  The  road  is  carried  along  the  edge 
of  a  very  lofty  region,  deep  at  the  foot  of  which, 
flows  in  breadth  and  beauty  the  Connecticut. 
After  ascending  the  mountains  which  form  the 
Straits,  the  country  still  maintains  a  command- 
ing level,  nearly  to  the  ocean.  Small  tributary 
streams  intersect  the  road,  and,  in  several  in- 
stances, are  employed  in  turning  mills ;  and  nume- 
rous gullies  and  ravines  were  at  this  time  open, 
occasioned  by  the  heavy  rains  which  for  some 
time  previously  had  fallen. 

Arrived  at  the  ferry,  the  road  afforded  a  gra- 
dual descent  to  the  level  of  the  river  ;  and,  a  lit- 
tle before  the  close  of  evening,  I  reached  the 
eastern  bank,  which  is  rocky  and  precipitous. 
The  road  ascended  by  degrees  to  the  same 
height  as  those  on  the  opposite  shore.  The 
summit  appeared  to  be  more  rocky. 

The  landing  is  the  place  of  trade ;  and  here 
are  several  shops  and  warehouses,  called  stores, 
for  the  sale  of  foreign  goods,  and  for  the  recep- 
tion of  domestic  produce,  in  which  the  former 
are  paid  for. 

It  was  night  before  I  had  proceeded  far  ;  and 
I  reached,  by  the  light  of  a  resplendent  moon,  a 
green,  on  which  stood  a  handsome  church,  of 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  QO 

9 

wood,  white  painted.  At  a  little  distance,  of 
similar  materials  and  corresponding  appearance, 
I  found  the  house  of  Mr.  Parsons,  in  which  I 
received  the  most  hospitable  welcome. 

In  the  morning,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  accom- 
panying Colonel  Moseley  to  Saybrook,the  lowest 
town  on  the  east  bank  of  the  river.  We  recross- 
ed  the  ferry  ;  and,  after  some  miles,  descended 
into  a  flat  county,  the  skirts  of  which  are  washed 
by  the  sea. 

Close  to  the  beach  are  the  remains  of  the  fort 
built  under  the  authority  of  the  royal  patent, 
granted  to  Lord  Say  and  Seal,  and  to  Lord 
Brooke  ;  and  near  the  fort  is  a  cheerful  village,  of 
which  the  houses  and  church  and  spire  resemble 
those  of  many  villages  in  England. 

We  returned  in  the  evening  to  EastHaddam. 
This  town,  which,  as  already  observed,  was  ori- 
ginally a  portion  of  Haddam,  was  separately  set- 
tled in  1704.  "  A  spot  in  East  Haddam,"  says 
an  American  topographer,  "  was  famous  for 
"  Indian  pawaws,  and  was  subject  for  many 
"  years  to  earthquakes  and  various  noises,  which 
"  the  first  settlers,  agreeable  to  the  superstitious 
"  ideas  of  that  age,  attributed  to  these  pawaws. 
"  An  old  Indian  being  asked  what  was  the  rea- 
"  son  of  such  noises  in  this  place,  answered, 
•' '  The  Indians'  god  was  very  angry,  because 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  '  the  Englishmen's  god  came  here.'     These 
"  noises  are  now  very  frequently  heard." 

The  noises  alluded  to  are  said  to  have  been 
called  by  the  Indians  matchi  moodus  ;  or  the  place 
itself  they  called  Matchi  Moodus,  on  account  of 
the  noises.  Matchi  signifies  eviL  The  settlers 
commonly  called  the  noises  Moodus-noises  ; 
and  they  considered,  and  probably  with  reason, 
the  name,  Matchi  or  Mache  Moodus,  to  be  that 
of  the  place  now  called  Haddam  and  East  Had- 
dam.  East  Haddam,  more  particularly,  is  fa- 
mous by  this  appellation,  in  the  New  England 
manuscripts,  as  the  supposed  scene  of  infernal 
rites. 

It  is  uncertain,  whether  by  paivaivs,  some- 
times written  powaws  and  poivows,  the  author  of 
the  above  recital  understands  the  priests  or  offi- 
ciators  in  the  religious  ceremonies  of  the  In- 
dians, or  rather  the  ceremonies  themselves ;  for 
both  were  called  by  the  same  name,  as  well  as 
regarded  with  the  same  horror,  by  the  settlers. 

The  noises,  notwithstanding  what  is  above  ad- 
vanced, are  not  at  present  common.  On  the  con- 
trary, it  is  said  that  they  have  been  very  rare,  if  not 
wholly  unknown,  for  the  last  thirty  years.  Their 
origin  is  certainly  similar  to  that  of  earth- 
quakes ;  and  their  present  infrequency  agrees  w  ith 
the  general  cessation  of  these  phenomenons  in 
this  mountainous  part  of  the  country.  In  the 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

hundred  and  fifty-four  years  which  elapsed  be- 
tween 1628  and  1785,  the  occurrence  of  no 
fewer  than  forty-five  is  on  record ;  and  it  is  a 
combination  of  facts,  well  calculated  to  awaken 
our  attention,  that  within  less  than  two  hundred 
years,  there  should  have  been  ascertained,  in 
this  part  of  the  world,  by  well  authenticated 
history,  the  most  sensible  alterations  in  three  of 
the  great  kingdoms  of  nature :  the  springs  are 
known  to  have  decreased;  the  direction  of 
winds  to  have  changed ;  and  earthquakes,  from 
being  frequent,  to  have  become  rare.  M. 
Volney  attributes  the  earthquakes  and  volcanic 
phenomenons  of  these  regions  to  the  schistous 
stratum  which  prevails  between  the  Potowmac 
and  the  Saint-Lawrence,  and  which,  as  he  truly 
represents,  abounds  in  sulphur  ;*  but,  this  the- 
ory, combined  \vith  the  fact  of  diminished  fre- 
quency in  the  phenomenons  of  subterraneous 
combustion,  supposes  diminished  fuel,  and  ex- 
tends our  ideas  of  the  rapid  progress  which  has 
been  made  on  this  continent,  in  the  change  of 
natural  substance  and  constitution. 

Pawa,  or  pawaw,  spelt  also poivah,  is  a  word 
which  I  have  not  found  in  so  general  use  among 

*  See  Vue  du  Sol,  Climat,  ls"c.  des  Etats  Unis.  Par 
M.  Volney.  Ch.  iv.— Noises  of  an  earthquake  are  said  to 
have  been  heard  at  New  London,  which  is  at  a  small 
distance  from  East  Haddam,  in  May,  1809. 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

the  Indians  of  New  England,  as  it  has  always 
been  among  the  colonists  and  their  descendants. 
It  implies  a  sacred  profession,  including  physic, 
prophecy,  the  direction  of  consciences  and  the 
performance  of  religious  rites.  These  rites,  ac- 
cording to  the  practice  very  generally  received  in 
the  Pagan  world,  consist  in  dances,*  and  even 
in  frantic  gestures  and  faintings,  supposed  to  pro- 
ceed from  the  inability  of  the  human  frame  to 
sustain  the  inspirations  of  divinity.  In  these 
cases,  the  priest  may  fall;  and  it  is  to  be  sus- 
pected that  paiva  has  its  derivation  from  the 
verb  pa,  to  fall.  Be  this  as  it  may,  the  pawa 
is  the  same  with  the  shaman  of  the  north-east- 
em  parts  of  Asia,t  and  with  the  jongleur,  jug- 
gler, or  diviner,  of  the  French  writers  on  the  In- 
dians of  North  America. 

Pawas  are  said  to  have  been  in  full  use  in  New 
England  at  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, and  not  entirely  to  have  disappeared  before 

*  By  pawas,  considered  as  rites,  dances  are  usually 
understood.  Even  a  verb  has  been  made  expressly ;  to 
fiowaivj  to  dance,  to  perform  pawas.  In  Pennsylvania, 
pawas  appear  to  have  received  the  name  of  canticoes,  ap- 
parently from  their  songs. 

t  See  Sauer's  Account  of  Billings's  Expedition.    Lon- 
don, 1802._ 


OF  THE  t'XlTEI)  STATES. 

1740.*     Indeed,  before  that  date,  the  Indians 
themselves  had  almost  disappeared. 

Once,  at  a  village  of  French  Indians,  in  con- 
versation with  a  descendant  of  a  Dutch  prisoner 
there,  I  attempted,  at  first  in  vain,  to  learn  some- 
thing concerning  pawas  ;  but,  on  coming  to  an 
understanding,  as  to  the  description  of  persons 
intended  by  this  word,  I  was  assured  by  my  in- 
structor, that  he  could  find  no  English,  for  the 
name  given  these  persons  by  the  Indians,  but 
this — the  divine  men.  The  tide,  if  we 
desire  to  treat  it  respectfully,  we  may  assi- 
milate with  that  of  divines,  clergymen,  or  men 
conversant  in  things  divine ; — if  to  debase  it,  it 
will  make  cunning  men,  conjurers,  or  di- 
viners. The  Latin  is  vates. 

If  the  settlers  attributed  the  Moodus-noises  to 
the  pawras,  whether  pawas  the  priests,  or  pawas 
the  rites  or  sacrifices,  they  undoubtedly  mistook 
the  effect  for  the  cause.  The  pawas  did  not 
occasion  the  noises  at  Matchi  Moodus,  but 
dances  and  sacrifices  were  there  celebrated  on 
account  of  the  noises.  The  Indians  believed 
them  to  proceed  from  the  manitos,  spirits  or 
gods,  whose  residence  they  therefore  supposed 
that  country  to  be.  Earthquakes  and  Moodus 
noises  are  thus  understood  by  Ossian,  where  he 
makes  Rothmar  fall  "  as  falls  the  Stone  of  L«o 

*  MSS  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Ezra  Stiles. 


104 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


"  da,  shook  at  once  from  rocking  Drumanard, 
"  when  spirits  heave  the  earth  in  their  wrath."* 

East  Haddam  has  a  rocky  and  uneven  surface, 
but  a  strong  and  fertile  soil.  The  church,  which  I 
have  already  mentioned,  and  which  was  lately  built 
for  about  six  thousand  dollars,  is  of  an  agreea- 
ble architecture,  in  the  modern  taste  ;  but  it  has 
been  the  occasion  of  a  religious  schism  in  this 
town,  or  rather  in  this  society,  or  rather  perhaps 
in  this  church,  in  some  small  degree  curious. 

A  person  deceased,  bequeathed  to  the  town, 
or  to  the  society,  (for  I  am  not  certain 
which,)  a  plot  of  ground,  on  which  to  build  a 
church.  When  the  parties  interested  met,  it 
was  objected  by  a  certain  proportion  of  them, 
that  the  ground  was  too  far  to  the  east,  to  the 
west,  to  the  north  or  to  the  south ;  in  a  word, 
that  it  was  not  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  or  of 
the  society,  a  consideration  never  neglected,  in 
these  countries,  where  all  men's  rights  are  to  be 
defended.  The  remedy  proposed,  was  to  sell 
the  plot  bequeathed,  and  with  the  avails,  and  if 
needful  with  some  addition,  to  buy  another 
plot,  more  advantageously  situated.  The  ma- 
jority refused  to  allow  weight  to  the  objection, 
and  rejected  the  proposal,  alleging,  that  though  the 
ground  was  not,  by  actual  measurement,  in  the 

*  Temora,  Book  V. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

centre  desired,  it  was  so  nearly  so,  as  to  be,  to 
every  reasonable  end,  as  if  it  \vcre  the  same.  I 
saw  the  church,  and  I  was  shown  also  the  ground 
that  was  acknowledged  to  be  central ;  and 
they  appeared  to  be  about  a  furlong  apart.  The 
minority  persevered  in  their  demand ;  and,  at 
length,  unable  to  succeed,  they  not  only  with- 
drew themselves  from  the  church,  but  actually 

* 

changed  the  system  of  religious  worship. 
They  built  a  church  of  their  own,  and  hired 
(so  the)''  term  it)  a  minister  of  the  church 
of  England ;  and  thus  this  church  obtained  a 
footing  in  East  Haddam,  where  it  had  never 
had  a  footing  before. 


VOL.  I. 


CHAPTER   X. 

Connecticut — Societies  and  Churches. 

I  HAVE  used  the  words  society  and  church 
in  senses  new  to  most  English  readers  ;  and  it 
is  therefore  time  that  I  should  explain  their  ap- 
plication, in  the  system  civil  and  religious  of 
Connecticut,  and  in  that  of  the  sect  of  Chris- 
tians, calling  themselves  congregationalists,  pres- 
byterians,  or  independents. 

A  society  is  a  community  or  corporation, 
established,  for  the  most  part,  for  the  twofold 
object  of  religious  worship  and  common  school- 

I 

ing ;  but,  in  some  instances,  for  religious  wor- 
ship only.  It  is  also,  at  least  in  a  school  view, 
either  the  whole,  or  part  of  a  town,  defined  by 
geographical  limits. 

Sometimes,  a  town  composes  one  society ; 
sometimes,  it  includes  two  or  more ;  sometimes, 
a  remote  corner  of  one  town  is  joined,  for  lo- 
cal convenience,  with  the  adjoining  comer  of 
another,  into  one  society.  So  far,  the  arrange- 
ments suppose  uniformity  of  religious  opinions  ; 
but,  if  these  jar,  then  the  society,  as  to  church 
arrangements,  has  no  reference  to  territorial  sub- 
division. 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  kc. 

Two  or  tliree  societies  may  subsist  in  the 
same  town  ;  and  while  one  neighbour  belongs  to 
one,  the  next  may  belong  to  a  second.  In  like 
manner,  a  society  may  be  composed  of  portions 
of  the  inhabitants  of  two,  three  or  four  towns, 
who,  severally  disagreeing  with  their  immediate 
neighbours,  unite  themselves  with  each  other ; 
but,  however,  societies  may  be  constituted,  as  to 
matters  of  religious  worship,  the  second  object, 
that  of  common  schooling,  is  always  of  a  local 
nature,  and  towns,  therefore,  uniformly  consist 
of  one  or  more  societies,  considered  as  dis- 
tricts. Letters  may  consequently  be  addressed, 
and  strangers  directed,  to  such  or  such  a  town, 
with  the  addition  of  first — second- — or  third  so- 
ciety* The  stranger,  indeed,  is  often  more 
perplexed  than  assisted  by  such  a  direction ; 
and  when,  in  the  depth  of  a  forest,  or  on  the 
side  of  a  solitary  mountain,  he  asks  his  way, 
he  scarcely  comprehends  what  is  intended  by  tell- 
ing him,  that  he  is  actually  in  society,  second, 
Jtrst,  or  third. — Topographers,  however,  take 
the  term  freely  in  this  sense  ;  and,  in  describ- 
ing a  town,  relate,  that  the  first  society  is 
low,  and  the  second,  wet. 

It  belongs  to  societies,  as  ecclesiastical  socie- 
ties, to  provide  for  the  maintenance  of  a  minis- 
ter of  religion,  and  to  build  and  repair  churches; 
ynd  as  school  societies,  to  support,  in  even*  so- 


ciety,  one  or  more  schools,  providing  for  school- 
masters and  mistresses,  and  building  and  re- 
pairing school-houses  ;  and,  for  these  purposes, 
to  vote  and  to  levy  taxes. 

1.  Societies  are  made  and  constituted  by  the 
general  'assembly. 

2.  Societies  are  either  with  or  without  local 
limits. 

3.  The  law  contemplates,  in  the  general,  all 
societies,  sometimes  called  ordinary  societies,  as 
of  the  presbyterian,  congregational  persuasion ; 
and  no  inhabitant  is  qualified  to  vote  in  any 
society-meeting,  unless  in  possession  of  a  cer- 
tain estate,  and  in  full  communion  with  their 
church.      He  must  also  be  a  settled  and  ap- 
proved  inhabitant :     "  No    person    shall    pre- 
"  sume  to  vote  in  any  society  meeting,  afore - 
"  said,  unless  such  person  hath  a  freehold  in  the 
"  same  town  or  society,  rated  at  nine  dollars,  or 
"  one  hundred  and  thirty -four  dollars  in  the  com- 
"  mon  list,  or  is  a  person  of  full  age,  and  in  full 
"  communion  with  the  church ;  nor  shall  any 
"  person  who  is,  or  shall  be,  by  the  laws  of  this 
"  state,  freed  or  exempted  from  the  payment  of 
"  those  taxes,  granted  by  any  town  or  society, 
"  for  the  support  of  the  worship  and  ministry  of 
"  the  presbyterian,  congregational  or  consociated 
"  churches  in  this  state,  and  for  the  building 
"  and  maintaining  meeting-houses  for  such  wor- 


OF  TIIE  UNITED  STATES. 


109 


"  ship,  on  account  or  by  reason  of  his  dissent- 
"  ing  from  the  way  of  worship  and  ministry 
"  aforesaid,  be  allowed  or  admitted  to  act  or 
"  vote  in  any  town  or  society  meeting,  in  those 
"  votes  which  respect  or  relate  to  the  support  of 
"  the  worship  and  ministry  aforesaid,  and  the 
"  building  and  maintaining  of  the  meeting- 
"  houses  aforesaid." 

4.  The  votes  of  the  qualified,  settled  and  ap- 
proved inhabitants,  are  binding  on  the  rest. 

5.  The  settled,  qualified  and  approved  inha- 
bitants, in  each  society,  are  required  to  assem- 
ble "  in  the  month  of  December,  or  in  any  other 
*'  month  in  the  year,  for  ordering  the  affairs  of 
"  the  society,  and  may  by  a  majority  of  votes, 
"  when  so  assembled,  choose  a  committee,  a 
"  moderator,  a  clerk,  a  collector  and  a  trea- 
*•*  surer." 

6.  They  may  also  impose  and  levy  taxes  "  on 
"  the  inhabitants  of  such  society,  and  others  by 
"  law  rateable  by  such  society,  for  the  raising 
"  such  sum  or  sums  of  money  as  may  be  needed 
*'  for  the  support  of  the  ministry  and  school 
"  there,  and  other  matters  necessary  for  them 
"  to  do." 

7.  Fines  may  be  imposed  and  levied  by  dis- 
tress on  persons  elected  into  society-offices,  and 
refusing  to  serve  ;  and  are  applied,  "  one-half  to 
"  the  complainer,  who  shall  prosecute  to  effect, 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

u  and  the  other  half  to  the  treasurer  of  the  so- 
"  ciety." 

8.  Where  the  two  or  more  societies  have  the 
same  limits  and  boundaries,  the  members  are  to 
be  ascertained  by  enrolment  of  their  names ;  and 
"  persons  who  shall  arrive  at  the  age  of  twenty - 
li  one    years,    or   women    who   shall   become 
"  widows,  dwelling  within  the  limits  of  such 
"  societies,"    may  make   choice,  at  any  time 
within  twelve  months,  of  that  society  in  the  rolls 
of  which  they  prefer  entering  their  names.  "  The 
"  estates  of  non-residents   pay  to  the  society 
'*  lowest  in  the  list,  within  such  limits,  which 
<{  supports  the  ministry  by  taxing."   But,  though 
this  provision,  by  the  terms  of  the  act  of  1786, 
is  general,  it  is  tacitly  limited  by  one  of  1801. 
The  society-taxes  are  of  two  classes,  as -the  ob- 
jects of  the  society  are  also  two ;  and  are  called 
school-taxes  and  ecclesiastical,  and  sometimes 
ministerial  taxes ;  and  the  latter,  by  the  act  last 
mentioned,  where  collected  on  the  estates  of  non- 
residents, are  given  to  that  "  denomination  of 
"  Christians,"  meaning  the  society  of  that  deno- 
mination,  to  which   the   non-residents  belong. 
There  is  some  ambiguity,  arising  from  the  col- 
lisions and  phraseology  of  the  acts ;  but  the  in- 
tention appears  to  be  as  here  stated. 

9.  In  neglect  of  making  choice  of  a  society, 
"  the  persons  brought  up  within  said  limits  shall 


OF  TUP.  UNITED  STATES. 


u  belong  to  that  society  to  which  their  parents 
"  belonged,  (if  they  dwelt  there,)  othenvise  to 
"  the  society  to  which  the  head  of  the  family  in 
"  which  they  were  brought  up,  belonged  ;  and 
"  widows,  to  the  society  to  which  their  husbands 
"  did  belong  ;  and  persons  who  come  from  any 
"  other  place  to  dwell  there,  shall  be  taxed  by 
"  the  society  lowest  in  the  list  within  such  limits, 
"  which  support  the  ministry  by  taxing,  until 
"  they  make  their  election,  as  aforesaid." 

10.  But,  nothing  in  these  provisions  is  to 
affect  the  "  privileges  allowed  by  law  to  any 
"  persons  who  soberly  dissent  from  the  worship 
"  and  ministry  established  by  the  laws  of  this 
"  state  ;"  and  it  is  enacted  accordingly,  that 
"  such  inhabitants  of  towns  and  societies  as  have 
"  obtained,  or  hereafter  shall  obtain,  liberty. of 
"  the  general  assembly  to  procure,  and  have  the 
"  preaching  of  the  gospel  among  themselves  for 
"  certain  months  ,in  the  year,  distinct  and  sepa- 
"  rate  from  the  established  place  of  worship  in 
"  such  town  or  society  to  which  they  belong, 
"  shall  and  may,  when  and  so  often  as  there  may 
"  be  occasion,  meet  together  at  such  time  and  . 
"  place  as  shall  be  appointed,  and  according  to 
"  the  notice  thereof  to  be  given  them,  at  least 
"  five  days  before  such  meeting,  by  their  com- 
"  mittee,  or,  for  want  of  committee,  by  one  of 
"  the  said  principal  inhabitants ;  and  being  s« 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  assembled,  may  choose  a  clerk  to  enter  their 
"  votes,  and  also  a  committee  of  three  or  more 
"  able,  discreet  men,  of  the  inhabitants  afore- 
"  said,  to  order  the  prudential  aifairs  of  such 
"  precincts,  for  the  end  aforesaid ;  and  may  by 
"  their  major  vote  in  such  their  meetings,  grant 
t{  and  lay  such  rates  and  taxes  on  the  said  inha- 
"  bitants  as  shall  be  needful  for  the  support  of 
"  the  minister  whom  they  shall  procure  to  preach 
"  with  them  for  such  time,  and  for  other  neces- 
"  sary  charges  arising  among  them ;  and  toap- 
"  point  a  collector  or  collectors  for  the  gathering 
"  such  rates,  who  shall  have  the  same  power  to 
"  proceed  in  collecting  the  same  as  collectors  of 
"  societies  have,  and  shall  be  accountable  there- 
"  for  in  the  same  manner  as  collectors  of  society 
"  rates  by  law  are." 

Excepting  in  the  choice  which  is  permitted,  as 
to  support  or  non-support  of  the  establishment, 
in  the  maintenance  of  the  clergy  by  taxation, 
much  similitude  will  be  observed,  in  this  dis- 
tribution, to  the  parishes,  parish- rates,  parish  or 
vestry-meetings,  and  other  parochial  laws  and 
usages  in  England.  An  attempt  has  been  made 
to  identify  the  towns  of  New  England  with  the 
decennaries  or  tythings  of  England — "  Decen- 
"  naries  or  towns  ;"*  but,  the  constitutions  of 

*  Specimen  of  Republican  Institutions* 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES.  U3 

the  towns  appears  to  be  rather  a  mixture  of  those 
of  the  shire,  hundred  and  parish.  Like  the  En- 
glish hundreds,  the  towns  had  anciently  a  con- 
stable for  their  chief  ministerial  officer.  Some 
towns,  indeed,  appeared  to  have  had  more  than 
one  constable,  in  this  capacity.*  In  truth,  the 
society,  town  and  county,  in  these  countries,  are 
new  modifications  of  the  parish,  hundred  and 
shire,  in  which  the  powers  and  immunities  are 
differently  distributed.  The  clergv  being  other- 
wise provided  for,  the  parish-meeting  levies  no  tax 
for  this  purpose  ;  but,  in  other  respects,  it  is  com- 
petent to  more  than  the  society -meeting  ;  but, 
what  is  withheld  from  the  society-meeting,  be- 
longs to  the  town-meeting  ;  and  the  town-meet- 
ing engrosses  much  of  what  belongs,  in  England, 
to  the  shire.  There  are  in  England,  county- 
meetings,  and  in  New  England,  town-meetings, 
convened  on  political  occasions.  As  a  popular 
engine,  the  county-meeting  is  more  powerful 
than  the  town-meeting. — Of  the  town-meeting, 
while,  on  the  one  side,  the  town  has  been 
looked  for  in  the  venerable  institutions  of 
Alfred,  the  meeting,  on  the  other,  has  been 
identified  with  the  scenes  of  ancient  elo- 
quence :  "  From  that  aera,"  says  an  academic 

*  See  provisions  of  the  Constitution  of  1639,  cited  in 
Chap.  VII. 

VOL  r.  n 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

orator,  (the  sera  of  the  establishment  of  a  school 
of  eloquence  in  the  Peloponnesus,)  "  through  the 
"  long  series  of  Greek  and  Roman  history,  down 
"  to  the  gloom  of  universal  night,  in  which  the 
"  glories  of  the  Roman  empire  expired,  the 
"  triumphs  and  the  splendour  of  eloquence  are 
"  multiplied  and  conspicuous.  Then  it  was  that 
"  the  practice  of  the  art  attained  a  perfection  ever 
"  since  unrivalled,  and*  to  which  all  succeeding 
"  times  have  listened  with  admiration  and  de- 
"  spair.  At  Athens  and  Rome  a  town-meeting 
"  could  scarcely  be  held,  without  being  destined 
"  to  immortality ;  a  question  of  property  be- 
"  tween  individual  citizens  could  scarcely  be 
"  litigated,  without  occupying  the  attention,  and 
"  engaging  the  studies,  of  the  remotest  nations 
"  and  the  most  distant  posterity."* 

A  topic,  of  which  the  mystery  surpasses  that 
of  the  societies,  is  that  of  the  churches.  We  are 
not  unfamiliar  with  this  term,  as  applied,  as  well 
to  a  body  of  persons  as  to  a  building  ;  but  if  the 
reader  imagines  that  the  societies,  or  even  the  set- 
tled, approved  and  qualified  inhabitants  of  those 
societies,  paying,  as  is  said  in  England,  scot  and 


*An  Inaugural  Oration,  delivered  at  the  Author's 
Installation  as  Boylston  Professor  of  Rhetorick  and  Ora- 
tory, at  Harvard  University,  in  Cambridge,  Massachu- 
setts, on  Thursday,  12th  June,  1806.  By  John  Quincy 
Adams.  Boston,  1806. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  H£ 

lot,  duly  attending  divine  worship,  and  agree- 
ing in  all  things  with  the  church,  are,  after  all, 
the  churches,  he  is  to  learn  that  he  labours  in 
error. 

One  Sunday,  or  as  it  is  here  uniformly  deno-' 
minatcd,  one  sabbath,  I  accompanied  an  entire 
family  to  church.  The  master  of  the  family 
was  of  the  middle  age,  and  performed,  as  is  com- 
mon with  the  most  respectable  persons,  the 
office  of  chief  chorister,  or  leader  of  the  band,  to 
the  singers.  Returning  to  his  house,  I  missed  a 
young  man  who  had  been  with  us ;  and,  on  in- 
quiring for  him,  was  informed,  that  he  had  stayed 
behind,  to  receive  the  sacrament — with  the  ad- 
dition, that  "  He  was  a  member  of  the  church." 
Not  immediately  comprehending  the  import  of 
this  exclusive  title,  I  was  at  length  made  to  under- 
stand, that  there  was  no  member  of  the  churcli 
among  the  upper  members  of  this  family , 
that  the  church  consists  in  a  narrow  circle,  with- 
in the  circle  of  settled,  qualified  and  approved 
inhabitants,  as  that  is  within  the  circle  of  the. 
society ;  and  that  it  is  only  to  the  church  that 
the  sacrament  of  the  Last  Supper  is  adminis- 
tered. 

The  latter  circumstance  will  occasion  less 
surprise,  if  we  call  to  mind,  that  the  officiating 
clergy  are  every- where  allowed,  under  a  certain 
decree  of  restraint,  the  right  of  discriminating 


• 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

between  worthy  and  unworthy  candidates.  As 
to  the  particular  case  in  question,  a  religious 
discipline  of  some  severity  was  imposed  on  the 
church  ;  a  discipline  more  agreeable  to  that  mor- 
bid piety,  wrhich,  in  particular  instances,  seizes 
upon  youth,  than  with  those  sentiments  which 
wise  and  virtuous  men,  of  more  experience,  com- 
monly approve.  Not  only  cards,  but  dances, 
songs  and  music  wore  forbidden  to  the  church. 

On  points  of  this  kind,  and,  indeed,  on  many- 
others,  every  church  has  its  own  discipline.  The 
church  is  that  portion  of  the  inhabitants  of  a  so- 
ciety which  are  settled,  qualified  and  approved, 
and  particularly  which  are  in  full  communion  ; 
and  it  is  these  only,  as  we  have  seen,  that  can 
vote  at  society-meetings,  and  whose  will  is 
binding  on  the  rest. 

The  church  is  a  term  not  found  in  the  provi- 
sions of  the  statute-book,  because  these  look 
only  to  the  civil  or  temporal  concerns  of  the 
establishment.  The  church  is  a  spiritual  so- 
ciety or  congregation. 

I  might  here  enter  further  into  the  religious 
institutions  of  the  state,  or,  with  still  more  reason, 
into  the  system  of  schools,  which,  as  has  appeared, 
is  included  in  that  of  the  societies ;  or  explain 
the  tax -lists,  of  which  some  mention  has  already 
more  than  once  occurred.  But,  I  quit,  for  the 
present,  inquiries  of  this  nature  ;  inquiries,  the 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


117 


full  and  early  pursuit  of  which  I  have  the 
less  reluctantly  allowed  myself,  because  they  in- 
troduce us  to  an  accurate  acquaintance  with  the 
genius,  the  customs  and  the  manners,  of  the  peo- 
ple among  wrhom  we  are ;  and  because,  they 
form  the  ground  of  the  picture  which  these 
volumes  are  to  display. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Connecticut — Berlin. 

I  OUGHT  sooner,  perhaps,  to  have  prepa- 
red those,  to  whom  the  topography  of  the  United 
States  is  new,  for  the  extraordinary  nomencla- 
ture that  distinguishes  it.  While  the  reader 
is  thinking  of  nothing  but  the  little,  though  not 
unboastful,  republic  of  Connecticut,  the  head  of 
my  chapter  suddenly  carries  him  to  the  royal 
fortress  of  Frederic.  I  am  guilty,  nevertheless, 
of  none  of  that  curvetting  which  a  Yorick  was 
able  to  indulge  in,  but  soberly  travelling  the 
turnpike-road,  from  East  Haddam,  back  to 
Hartford. 

Greater  perplexities,  hereafter,  threaten  the 
reader  that  shall  follow  me.  Not  only  has  it  plea- 
sed the  good  people  of  New  England  to  decorate 


118 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  FART 


their  towns  with  every  name  that  is  of  note,  in 
ancient  or  in  modem,  in  profane  or  in  sacred  his- 
tory, but  they  have  often  applied  these  names  in 
immediate  contempt  of  things ;  calling  north, 
south ;  towns,  shires ;  and  hills,  vales.  A 
day's  ride  will  carry  a  man  from  Middlesex  to 
Jericho,  and  thence  to  Athens,  Corinth,  Hyde 
Park,  Peru,  Jamaica,  Georgia,  Bristol,  China, 
Guildhall,  Vershire,  Scotland,  Mount  Tabor, 
Babylon,  Bedlam,  Padanarani  and  Cheapside. 
It  is  an  even  chance,  but  on  reaching  Mount 
Tabor,  he  finds  a  plain ;  and  so  of  the  other 
denominations ;  except,  indeed,  that  he  may 
be  sure  of  wit  and  elegance  in  Athens,  and 
splendid  luxury  in  Corinth.  He  shall  find  Ash- 
yore?  upon  a  hill ;  Danbury  and  M.arlborough 
where  there  is  no  borough;  and  Cumberland 
where  the  Cymbri  was  never  heard  of.  Even 
names  of  original  composition  are  equally  des- 
titute of  meaning ;  there  is  no  borough  in  New 
England,  unless  all  its  towns  be  boroughs,  in 
fact  though  not  in  name ;  and  yet  we  read  of 
Qewey'sburgh  and  Green'  sborough. 

Hapless  he,  whose  imagination  is  mocked  with 
the  name  of  his  native  village,  far  left  under  the 
canopy  of  other  skies !  When  the  sun  rises,  he  sets 
forth,  half  promising  himself  to  behold  the  dark 
and  ivied  battlements  of  its  church,  empurpled  by 
the  evening  ray.  Evening  descends,  and  he  is  told 


OF  THE  UX1TK1)  STATES. 

that  he  has  performed  his  journey ;  but,  the 
church,  the  copse,  the  gardens  and  the  cottages, 
where  are  they  ? 

Nor  is  it  enough  that  he  reconciles  himself  to 
the  new  association,  and  learns  that  there  may  be 
a  Delhi  without  palaces  or  pagodas,  without 
baths  or  palm-trees,  but  with  wide  acres  of  stumps 
and  trunks  of  trees,  naked,  gray  and  black  ; 
and  here  and  there  a  hut  of  logs.  This  is 
not  enough.  The  name  returns  upon  him 
thrice  in  a  day ;  he  travels  from  Pekin  in  the 
morning,  and  he  sleeps  at  Pekin  at  night. 
But  the  Pekin  of  the  morning  was  a  sea-port 
or  a  mountain  ;  and  the  Pekin  of  the  night  is  a 
cluster  of  saw-mills.  Every  state,  and  some- 
times every  county,  recurs  to  the  same  names. 

In  the  earlier  periods  of  the  colonies,  the  li- 
cense was  somewhat  less  extravagant ;  because, 
though  names  were  arbitrarily  borrowed  and 
imposed,  yet  there  was  some  motive,  some 
sentiment,  directing  the  choice  ;  and  names  of 
places  are  rational,  when  they  have  reference 
to  a  historical  fact,  as  much  as  when  they 
are  purely  geographical.  The  name  of  a  found- 
er, or  of  the  birth-place  or  residence  of  a 
founder,  may  be  fairly  given,  upon  principles 
of  natural  pride,  or  natural  aftection ;  and  a 
kindred  motive  often  lead  the  first  colonists  of 
New  England  to  name  their  tovras  after  the 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

birth-places  or  former  residences  of  their  fa- 
vourite clergy.  But,  now,  little  of  this  sort  is 
regarded.  There  are  no  Peruvians  in  Peru,  nor 
Chinese  in  China,  nor  aldermen  nor  giants  in 
the  glens  and  forests  of  Guildhall.  It  is  matter 
of  fact,  that  the  choice  is  often  made  on  no 
other  principles  than  that  a  name  sounds  prettily 
on  the  ear.  Persons,  appointed  on  committees  fof 
naming  towns,  have  told  me,  that  their  resource- 
had  been,  to  turn  over  a  gazetteer,  and  cull  from 
the  alphabet  a  few  well  sounding  names.  The 
lists  had  been  then  submitted  to  the  town-meet- 
ing, and  the  choice  effected. 

In  a  town  in  Maine,  I  was  informed,  that  a  dif- 
ferent name  from  that  which  that  town  now  bears, 
had  been  at  first  imposed  by  vote  of  the  town- 
meeting  ;  but,  a  principal  inhabitant,  who  arri- 
ved a  little  too  late,  on  promising  his  neighbours  a 
cask  of  rum,  procured  the  vote  to  be  rescinded, 
and  his  own  name  to  be  received.  Towns  of- 
ten change  their  names. 

I  heartily  join  in  the  regrets  of  those,  who 
wish  that  the  Indian  names  of  places  had 
been  more  generally  preserved ;  and  this,  not 
from  any  idle  preference  of  a  foreign  language 
to  my  mother  tongue,  nor  from  any  particular 
admiration  of  the  sounds ;  but,  from  the  agree- 
ment which  those  names  possessed  with  the  places 
they  denoted.  The  savage  has  no  temptation  to 
1 


OF  THE  UNITEB  STATES. 

that  spirit  of  mean  mimicry  which  so  often 
disfigures  lettered  society ;  and  he  must  call 
things  by  their  right  names,  or  it  is  in  vain  that 
he  calls  them  by  any.  When  he  speaks  of  the 
bend  of  river,  he  means  the  bend  of  a  river,  and 
not  a  forest,  a  lake  nor  an  island.  It  is  the  same 
when  he  speaks  of  an  island,  of  a  cataract,  or  of 
the  bason  at  the  cataract's  foot.  Such  is  the  de- 
scription of  the  Indian  names  that  are  still  re- 
tained ;  and  description,  as  being  almost  peculiar 
to  these  names,  stamps  them  almost  exclusively 
with  the  character  of  classic,  in  the  whole  nomen- 
clature that  embraces  them.  The  rest  exhibit  a 
senseless  heap  ;  and  if  the  reader  turn  with  im- 
patience from  its  barbarism,  let  him  at  least  pity 
the  pen  that  here  commits  it  to  paper ! 

There  are  therefore  no  Prussians  in  Berlin. 
This  town  was  erected  in  1785,  and  is  compo- 
sed of  parts  of  three  societies  or  parishes,  call- 
ed Kensington,  New  Britain  and  Worthington, 
and  previously  belonging  respectively  to  the  towns 
of  Middletown,  Wethersfield  and  Farmington. 
Its  extent  is  more  than  five  miles  from  north  to 
soutji ;  but  less  from  east  to  west.  On  the  east, 
it  is  bordered  by  the  little  river,  which,  after  a 
course  of  five  or  six  miles,  falls  into  the  Con- 
necticut, at  Middletown,  in  speaking  of  which 
place  it  has  been  already  mentioned.  In  the 
season,  it  supplies  abundance  of  shad.  This 

VOL.  i.  o 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

river,  and  the  brooks  which  empty  into  it,  wa- 
ter a  great  part  of  Berlin.  Of  the  exact  geriod 
in  which  this  part  of  the  country,  that  is,  the 
country  between  Wallingford  and  Wethersfield, 
was  first  settled,  I  am  not  informed. 

When  the  road  between  New  Haven  and 
Hartford  was  originally  made,  a  Mr.  Belcher, 
commonly  called  Governor  Belcher,  received  a 
stipend  from  the  government,  on  condition  of 
his  residing  here,  and  keeping  an  inn,  or,  as  it  is 
called,  a  tavern.  The  Indians  were  at  this  time 
troublesome ;  and  mention  is  made  of  a  wall 
built  by  Mr.  Belcher,  as  if  for  purposes  of  de- 
fence. In  this  way,  however,  it  could  be  of  no 
use  ;  for  it  was  of  more  than  a  mile  in  circuit, 
and  formed  of  uncemented  stones,  raised  only 
four  feet  high,  like  the  walls  at  present  common 
in  the  country. 

This  wall,  however,  had  some  extraordinary 
personages  among  its  builders.  It  is  current 
in  tradition,  that  fourteen  or  fifteen  settlers 
came  into  Mr.  Belcher's  neighbourhood,  from 
the  town  of  Farmington,  of  whom  the  whole 
band  possessed  unusual  strength  and  sta- 
ture. Two  were  of  the  name  of  Hart.  Of 
these,  one,  whose  son,  at  the  age  of  seven- 
ty years,  is  still  alive,  is  said  to  have  had 
bones  so  large,  that  an  Indian,  who,  with  others, 
was  passing  through  the  settlement,  stopped- 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  123 

and  examined  him  with  surprise.  Mr.  Hart 
and  his  fellow-giants  were  employed  by  Mr. 
Belcher  on  his  wall. 

Turkey  Mountain,  in  this  town,  affords  a 
beautiful  prospect,  extending  to  Mount  Tom ; 
and,  from  Lamentation  Mountain,  of  which  the 
west  side  is  rocky  and  precipitous,  may  be 
counted  twenty  churches.  The  entire  country 
around  is  very  delightful  to  the  eye,  and  the  soil 
excellent.  Lamentation  Mountain  is  so  named 
from  an  accident  easily  supposed  to  befall  an 
early  settler  in  a  wilderness.  A  Mr.  Chester 
lost  his  way  upon  this  mountain.  Being  missed, 
his  neighbours  went  in  search  of  him,  making 
noises  in  the  woods,  and  uttering  lamentations. 
After  a  lapse  of  several  days,  he  had  the  good 
fortune  to  meet  with  them.  He  lived  to  a  good 
old  age,  and  was  at  length  buried  in  Wethers- 
field.  Over  his  grave,  there  is  said  to  be  a  sculp- 
tured stone.  From  some,  I  have  understood  that 
the  sculptures  had  relation  to  his  adventure  ;  but 
from  others  the  contrary.  Time  has  rendered 
them  obscure. 

I  was  obligingly  permitted  to  look  into  the 
town-records  of  Berlin ;  and  if  the  reader  is 
desirous,  like  myself,  to  learn  customs  and 
manners,  rather  from  actual  and  familiar  details, 
than  from  the  arbitrary  epithets,  and  descriptive 
arts,  of  those  who  treat  of  them,  he  will  think 


124 

some  extracts  from  these  records  acceptable. 
It  is  my  wish  that  he  should  see  things,  as  often 
as  possible,  for  himself:  "  The  traveller  into  a  fo- 
"  reign  country,"  says  LordBacon, "knows  more 
"by  the  eye,  than  he  that  stayeth  at  home  can 
"  by  the  relation  of  the  traveller." — It  is  desira- 
ble that  the  stayer  at  home  should  be  placed, 
when  it  is  convenient,  in  the  situation  of  the 
traveller. 

The  first  town-meeting  in  Berlin  was  held  on 
the  13th  of  June,*  1785,  at  which  General  Selah 
Hart  was  chosen  moderator  and  treasurer ;  Syl- 
vester Wells,  town-clerk;  Jonathan  Belding, 
collector  of  state  taxes;  and  General  Selah 
Hart,  Daniel  Mather  and  Elias  Berkley,  select- 
men. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  held  on  the  1st  day 
of  December,  1786,  Amos  Hosford  was  chosen 
moderator,  and  Roger  Riley,  also  in  the 
commission  of  the  peace,  town- clerk  and 
treasurer. 

"  At  the  same  meeting,  Amos  Peck,  Noah 
"  Stanley  and  Selah  Savage,  were  chosen  se- 
"  lectmen,  to  order  the  prudentials  of  the  town, 
"  for  the  year  ensuing." 

At  this  meeting,  also,  were  chosen  six  grand- 
jurors,  six  tything  men,  nine  listers,  twenty- 
one  surveyors  of  highways,  three  town- collec- 
tors, seven  fence-viewers,  three  key-keepers. 


OF  THF;  UNITED  STATES. 


125 


eight  hay-wards,  one  leather-sealer,  two  sealers 
of  dry  measures,  one  sealer  of  weights,  one 
sealer  of  liquid  measures,  one  inspector  of  lum- 
ber, and  four  constables,  in  all  seventy-three 
officers. 

In  town-meeting,  on  the  31st  May,   1797,  it 
was  voted,  that  the  price  of  labour,  for  repair- 
ing highways,  should  be  3s.  in  the  spring,  and 
2s.  found,  in  the  fall,  during  the  pleasure  of 
the  town. 

April  7,  1800,  a  committee  was  appointed,  to 
collect  the  information  requested  by  the  Re- 
verend Mr.  Trumbull,  for  his  second  volume 
of  the  History  of  Connecticut. 

"At  the  same  meeting,  2  dollars  50  cents 
"  was  voted  unto  Jesse  Hart,  for  making  a  cof- 
"  fin  for  Ezekiel  Clark." 

"  At  the  same  meeting,  7  mills  on  the  dollar 
"  was  voted  on  the  present  list,  payable  into 
"  the  treasury  by  the  first  day  of  April  next. 

"  Poted,  that  the  town  will  do  something  for 
"  Major  Richardson,  towards  his  expenses  in 
"  taking  care  of  the  boy  that  shot  his  hand  off. 

"  At  the  same  meeting,  Captain  Bernard, 
"  Ezra  Scovell,  Jonathan  Hubbard,  esquire, 
"  and  Oliver  Peck,  junior,  were  appointed  a 
"  committee,  to  make  full  inquiry  into  the  situ- 
"  ation  of  Major  Richardson's  apprentice,  that 
"  had  his  hand  wounded,  whether  the  town 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  ought  to  bear  part  or  all  the  expense  ;  and 
"  make  report  to  the  adjourned  meeting,  in 
"  April  next. 

"  At  the  same,  was  voted,  that  this  town  will 
"  oppose  the  petition  preferred  to  the  assembly 
"  at  their  last  session,  by  a  committee  appoint- 
"  ed  from  Middletown,  respecting  cutting  a 
"  road  through  their  town. 

"  footed,  and  the  selectmen  are  hereby  em- 
"  powered,  to  purchase  what  plank  is  necessary 
"  for  the  bridges. 

"  Jabez  Lankton  and  Seth  Goodrich  were 
"  appointed  rate-makers  for  the  year  ensuing. 

"  2  cents  and  5  mills  granted  for  highway 
"  tax. 

"  At  an  adjounied  meeting,  held  on  the  27th 
April,  1807, 

"  footed,  that  the  selectmen  inspect  Solo- 
"  mon  Squires's  bill  for  keeping  Ruth  Crow, 
"  when  unwell ;  and  allow  him  something,  if  they 
"  think  best. 

"  Voted,  that  the  committee  formerly  appoint- 
"  ed  to  look  into  Major  Richardson's  claim  on 
"  this  town,  are  hereby  reappointed  for  the  said 
"  service.  Esquire  North  is  excused  from 
"  serving  as  one  of  the  said  committee,  and 
"  Esquire  Hooker  is  appointed  in  his  room. 

"  Voted,  that  a  further  tax  of  three  mills  on 
"  the  dollar  is  granted  to  defray  the  charge  of 
"  the  town,  for  the  present  year. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


127 


"  Voted,  that  the  selectmen  are  hereby  em- 
"  powered  to  pay  what  they  think  is  right  to  Mr. 
"  Beckley,  as  damages,  as  a  compensation  for 
"  his  horse  breaking  his  leg  by  a  bad  bridge. 

"  Voted,  that  hogs  may  run  at  large,  through 
"  this  year,  on  their  being  well  yoked,  and  a 
"  good  ring  in  jheir  nose." 

The  following  is  a  census  of  the  town  of 
Berlin,  for  the  year  1801 : 

Male's  in  parish  of  Kensington    380 
Females  377 

Negroes  7 

757 

Males  in  New  Britain  436 

Females  506 

Negroes  4 

942 

Males  in  Worthington  495 

Females  497 

Negroes  1 1 


992 


Total  of  Negroes 

Total  2713 


128 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


There  are  many  persons  of  great  age  in  Ber- 
lin. The  number  of  poor,  relieved  by  the 
town,  is  not  more  than  four  ;  and  that  of  all  the 
poor  or  paupers  is  not  more  than  five.  The 
amount  of  the  town  taxes  for  this  year  is  seven- 
ty thousand  cents,  or  seven  hundred  dollars. 
There  are  thirteen  school  districts,  each  of 
which  has  a  school,  within  the  town.  The 
schools  have  about  forty  scholars  each  ;  except 
one,  which  is  smaller.  Five  of  the  schools  are 
in  the  society  or  parish  of  Worthington.  The 
church  of  this  society  was  built  in  1774.  It  is  a 
congregational  church,  and  contains  an  organ, 
given  twelve  years  since,  by  a  Mr.  Jedidiah 
Norton.  Organs  are  not  rejected  by  the  con- 
gregationalists ;  but,  only  a  very  few  of  their 
churches  possess  them,  on  account  of  their 
cost.  The  clergyman  of  this  society  receives 
four  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 

Berlin  has  become  a  place  of  some  notoriety, 
partly  on  account  of  a  tin-manufactory  which  has 
been  established  here.  Its  founder  was  one  Pa- 
terson,  a  native  of  Ireland  ;  and  though  it  soon  fell 
into  many  hands,  it  was  long  confined  to  Berlin. 
At  present,  however,  the  number  of  its  tin-manu- 
facturers is  decreasing,  many  having  scattered 
themselves  through  the  towns  below,  and  others 
having  emigrated  to  the  southward.  One  of  those 
in  Berlin  employs  sixty  hands  during  the  summer 
2. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

season.  In  the  winter,  he  removes  to  Philadel- 
phia, for  the  extension  of  his  trade.  The  mode 
in  which  the  wares  are  disposed  of  is  that  of 
peddling  and  barter*  They  are  carried  inside 
and  outside  of  small  waggons,  of  a  peculiar  and 
uniform  construction,  on  journies  of  great  length, 
and  are  to  be  met  with  in  all  directions.  From 
Philadelphia,  they  cross  the  Alleghany  Moun- 
tains, and  are  probably  seen  on  the  Mississippi. 
They  go  into  Canada,  and  vend  their  wares  in 
Montreal  and  Quebec. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Connecticut — Hartford. 

I  REACHED  Hartford,  for  the  second  time, 
on  the  first  of  June.  Its  distance  from  Berlin  is 
twelve  miles,  on  a  road  exceedingly  good,  car- 
ried over  an  undulating  surface,  clothed  with 
wood  and  pasture.  Hartford  and  Berlin  arc  on 
one  of  the  direct  roads  from  New  York  to  Bos- 
ton ;  and  there  is  an  excellent  road  from  Hartford 
to  Hudson,  a  flourishing  town  on  Hudson's  river, 
in  the  territory  of  New  York. 

VOL.    I.  R 


130         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

The  situation  of  Hartford  is  exceedingly  agree- 
able ;  the  ground  is  elevated,  the  streets  wide  and 
regular,  the  houses  well  built,  and  in  some  in- 
stances elegant ;  particularly  a  small  number, 
which  have  been  built  under  the  direction  of 
Colonel  Wadsworth,  a  gentleman  who  displays 
much  architectural  taste.  In  all  parts  of  the 
town,  many  of  the  buildings  are  of  brick. 

The  state-house  is  a  respectable  building  of 
red  brick,  occupying  the  centre  of  a  large  square, 
or  open  space.  It  is  somewhat  plain  in  its  ex- 
terior, especially  that  front  of  the  edifice  which 
faces  the  high  street ;  but  that  which,  from  the 
.elevation  of  the  ground,  overlooks  the  houses 
that  lie  toward  the  river,  and  commands  the 
country  on  the  opposite  bank,  is  adorned  with  a 
pediment  of  stone  or  wood,  supported  by  co- 
lumns, which  spring  from  the  basement  story. 
From  the  colonnade,  which  is  on  the  same  floor 
with  the  chambers  appropriated  to  the  members 
or  houses  of  assembly,  the  view  is  extensive  and 
beautiful,  composed  of  the  broad  and  winding 
stream  of  the  Connecticut,  bordered  with  wide 
and  fertile  meadows.  On  the  opposite  bank  is 
East  Hartford,  formerly  a  part  of  the  same  town. 
The  apartments  of  the  state-house  are  handsome 
and  commodious ;  and  in  that  appropriated  to 
the  upper  house  of  assembly  is  a  full-length  pic- 
ture of  General  Washington,  copied  by  Mr.  Stu- 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

art  from  his  own  picture,  possessed  by  the  late 
Marquis  of  Lansdown.  Of  the  picture  in  the  state- 
house,  the  colours  appear  to  be  decaying ;  and 
were  it  otherwise,  they  must  be  necessarily  seen 
to  disadvantage,  surrounded,  as  the  picture  is, 
with  curtains  of  a  scarlet,  or  else  crimson  colour — 
for,  of  which  of  the  two  they  are,  I  do  not  more 
particularly  remember. 

A  church  of  large  dimensions  is  building  of 
brick,  to  be  called  the  church  of  the  First  So- 
ciety ;  and  its  site  is  the  same  with  that  of  the 
former  church  of  that  society.  The  interior  pro- 
mises to  be  very  elegant ;  and  it  is  to  be  believed 
that  the  exterior  would  have  been  equally  so,  but 
for  some  injudicious  deviations  from  the  original 
design,  which  was  by  Colonel  Wadsworth.* 

This  church  is  in  the  high- street ;  and  to  the 
north,  in  the  same  street,  is  a  church  of  wood,  of 
respectable  architecture  and  dimensions,  and  or- 
namented with  a  spire.  This  belongs  to  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  England.  In  the  same 
street,  also,  is  the  South  Church  or  Meeting- 
house, already  mentioned. 

*  This  building  has  been  since  finished.  Its  belfry  is 
surmounted  by  a  modern  cupola,  instead  of  a  spire. 
What  is  still  more  modem,  and  still  more  worthy  of  re- 
mark, this  puritan  church  contains  a  pulpit  of  which 
the  furniture  is  of  green  velvet,  with  cords  of  green  and 
gold,  fancifully  entwined  round  the  supporting  rulumns. 
1809, 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

In  other  parts  of  the  town  are  two  meeting- 
houses, one  belonging  to  quakers,  and  the 
other  to  baptists,  more  properly  called  anabap- 
tists. In  the  western,  or  champaign  part  of  the 
town,  there  is  a  second  society  or  parish,  called 
the  west,  in  which  there  is  one  presbyterian 
or  congregational  church 

Hartford  is  a  county-town,  and  gives  its  name 
to  the  county.  The  city  may  contain  from  four 
to  five  hundred  houses,  and  is  included  in  the 
first  society  or  parish,  or  what  a  stranger  neces- 
sarily calls  the  town.  The  town,  however,  is  six 
miles  square.*  The  city  was  incorporated  in  the 

*  The  danger  of  attempting  to  reform  this  language, 
by  substituting  townshifi  for  town,  may  appear  in  the 
words  of  the  Duke  de  la  Rochefoucauld-Liancourt,  as 
we  meet  with  it  in  his  account  of  Stonning-totan  (Sto- 
nington)  in  this  state :  "  Ce  township  est  long  de  quinzc 
"  milles  sur  huit.  La  ville  contient  de  douze  a  treize  cents 
"  habitants  de  tout  age."  Here,  an  English  translator, 
if  he  should  have  escaped  rendering  ville  by  city,  would 
say,  "  The  towns/iip  is  fifteen  miles  long,  by  eight  broad. 
"  The  town  contains  from  twelve  to  thirteen  hundred; 
souls."  But,  in  the  language  of  New  England,  the  passage 
will  stand  thus :  "  The  town  is  fifteen  miles  long,  &c. 
"  The  -village  contains  from  twelve  to  thirteen  hundred 
"  souls."  The  duke  should  therefore  have  said,  cette 
•ville,  and  le  -village.  The  town,  according  to  the  Ameri- 
can Gazetteer,  contained,  in  1790,  six  places  of  public 
worship,  and  5,648  inhabitants ;  of  which  numbers,  nei- 
ther are  too  great  for  an  area  of  a  hundred  and  twenty 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  £33 

year  1784,  and  the  corporation  consists  of  a 
mayor,  aldermen,  common-council  and  free- 
men. 

Hartford  is  the  original  chief  town  and  seat  of 
government  of  the  colony  of  Connecticut  ;*  and 
even  since  the  union  with  that  of  Newhaven, 
it  has  still  been  essentially  the  metropolis. 

In  1638,  when  the  first  public  tax  was  levied 
in  the  colony,  and  regularly  apportioned  among 
the  four  towns  in  which  the  colony  then  consist- 
ed,  Hartford  paid  the  largest  share.  The  total 
amount  was  550/.  of  which  Agawam,  now  call- 
ed Springfield,  and  now  within  the  territory  of 
Massachusetts,  paid  £86  16  0 

Wethersfield,  124     0  0 

Windsor,  158    20 

Hartford,  251     2  Of 


£550     0  0 

square  miles,  and  this,  from  the  data  afforded  by  the  duke, 
must  be  nearly  the  superficial  contents  of  the  town. 
See  Voyage  dans  les  Etats  Unis  d'Amerique,  fait  en 
1795,  1796  el  1797.  Tome  V,  page  129. 

*  According  to  a  modern  History  of  New  England, 
the  first  court  held  in  Connecticut  was  held  at  Wethers- 
field  i  but  this  is  erroneous ;  it  was  at  Hartford  See 
Statutes  of  Connecticut^  Holmes's  American  dnnals-  />um- 
bull's  History  of  Connecticut  and  MS  Records  of  Connec- 
ticut. 

t  Trumbull's  History  of  Connecticut,  Book  I.  Ch.  vi. 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

This  year,  the  ratable  property  of  the  town 
is  valued,  in  the  grand  list,  at       $  122,540  64 
Windsor,  63,701  74 

Wethersfield,  77,428  50* 

Newhaven,  which  is  in  some  degree  a  co-me- 
tropolis^ rank  which  she  owes  to  her  having  been 
the  capital  of  the  colony  to  which  she  gave  name, 
while  that  colony  was  distinct  from  the  colony 
of  Connecticut.  The  general  assembly  holds  its 
October  session  at  Newhaven.  The  ratable  pro- 
perty of  this  town,  all  deductions  made,  has 
this  year  amounted  to  107,311  dollars  and  38 
cents. 

In  the  town  of  Hartford  there  are  kept  two 
coaches,  two  phaetons,  ten  coachees^  and  three 
other  four-wheeled  carriages  on  springs,  and  one 
hundred  and  ninety  single-horse  chairs  or  chaises, 
of  various  value. 

Of  houses  occupied  as  shops,  there  are  twen- 
ty-two of  three  stories,  thirty-eight  of  two,  and 
fifty-eight  and  a  half  of  one. 

The  number  of  sheep  exceeds  twelve  hun- 
dred. 

*  Since  1638,  the  geographical  magnitude  of  the  three 
towns  has  been  greatly  reduced  ;  but  I  believe  that 
each  has  still  within  its  limits  all  the  settled  lands 
which  it  contained  in  that  year. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Of  the  progress  of  wealth,  luxury  and  popula- 
lation,  the  following  number  of  chaises,  and  gold 
and  silver  watches,  returned  for  the  town  and 
county  of  Hartford  respectively,  between  the 
years  1796  and  1804,  will  afford  some  data. 
They  are  taken  from  the  archives  in  the  trea- 
surer's office  : 

Chaises.          Gold   Watches.    Silver  Watches. 
Year.       Town.      County.       TO-MI.      County.      Town.      County. 


1796 

57 

243 

28 

47 

130 

524 

1797 

69 

265 

46 

60 

116 

577 

1798 

73 

286 

44 

62 

128 

630 

1799 

77 

309 

43 

77 

143 

676 

1800 

91 

352 

47 

72 

151 

737 

1801 

93 

376 

52 

71 

151 

752 

1802 

101 

422 

56 

76 

144 

758 

1803 

132 

492 

59 

85 

161 

810 

1804       132  537  55  90  212  953* 

Two  newspapers  are  printed  weekly  in  Hart- 
ford, of  which  one  is  an  adherent  of  federalism^ 
and  the  other  of  its  opposite,  f  The  first  is  call- 
ed the  Connecticut  Courant,  and  the  second, 
the  American  Mercury.  Mr.  Oliver  Cook  is 
the  principal  bookseller ;  and  Messrs.  Hudson 

*  For  the  number  of  chaises  in  the  county,  and  for 
those  of  the  watches  in  town  and  county,  in  this  year, 
see  Appendix,  No.  I. 

t  There  are  now  three  newspapers.  The  new  one, 
called  the  Connecticut  Mirror,  and  devoted  to  the  fede- 
T«[  cause,  is  edited  by  Theodore  Dwight,  Esq.  1809. 


136         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

and  Goodwin  the  most  extensive  printers. 
The  Connecticut  Courant  is  from  their  press, 
as  are  also  a  handsome  edition  of  the  Statutes 
of  Connecticut,  and  Dr.  TrumbulPs  History 
of  Connecticut.  There  are  one  or  two  other 
booksellers'  shops,  or  shops  where  books  at 
least  are  sold. 

There  is  here,  as  indeed  there  very  generally 
is,  even  in  the  remote  societies  and  towns  of  the 
state,  a  public  library.  This  is  not  a  circulating 
library,  of  which  the  property  is  private,  but 
common  property,  and  purchased  by  contribu- 
tion. To  speak  generally,  the  number  of  books, 
in  the  respective  town  or  society-libraries,  is 
very  small;  but  they  afford,  according  to  a  writer, 
whom  I  have  already  often  quoted,  "  a  suffi- 
"  cient  collection,  in  the  various  branches  of 
"  literature,  and  particularly  in  sound  morality 
"  and  divinity.  These  libraries,"  he  continues, 
"  are  placed  under  the  direction  of  the  best  in- 
"  formed  members  of  the  society,  and  among 
"  them,  with  great  propriety,  we  always  find  the 
"  minister.  Nothing,  therefore,  that  is  hurtful 
"  to  the  peace,  to  regularity,  to  morals  or  to 
"  religioh,  ever  finds  its  way  into  these  collec- 
"  tions.  Thus  guarded,  the  people  have  an 
"  opportunity  of  treasuring  up  much  useful 
"  knowledge,  in  addition  to  the  stock  gained  at 
"  school ;  and  thus  of  sweetening  and  enliven- 
1 


OF  THE  TATTED  STA'l  137 

"  ing  the  journey  of  life,  by  amusements  useful, 
"  pleasant  and  substantial."* 

Besides  the  ordinary  district-schools,  Hartford 
lias  a  grammar-school,  endowed  out  of  a  legacy 
of  1,3241.  bequeathed  in  the  year  1657,  by  Go- 
vernor Hopkins,  "  as  an  encouragement,  in  these 
"  foreign  plantations,  of  bringing  up  hopeful 
"  youths,  both  at  the  grammar-school  and  col- 
"  lege."  In  1664,  this  legacy  was  equally 
divided  between  the  grammar- schools  of  New- 
haven  and  Hartford. f 

In  one  of  the  upper  apartments  of  the  state - 
house  is  a  museum,  which  the  possessor  is  suf- 
fered to  keep  there,  on  condition  of  giving  free 
admittance  to  the  members  of  the  assembly, 
at  their  several  sessions.  The  collection  is 
very  small.  By  favour  of  the  assembly,  the 
original  charter  of  Charles  the  Second  is  tern- 
porarily  placed  among  the  rarities.  There  is 
also  a  head  or  bust  of  stone,  of  rude  Indian 
sculpture,  It  is  a  flat  stone,  exhibiting  a 
bust  in  profile,  with  an  addition  of  some 
paint  about  the  mouth,  cheek  and  eyes.  The 
Indians  are  wont  to  help  out,  with  rude 
efforts  of  art,  any  stone  or  other  substance, 
in  the  natural  form  of  which  they  discover  a 

*  Dwight's  Oration,  page   1-J. 
t  American  Universal  Geography.    Boston.  1; 
VOL.   I. 


138         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

degree  of  similitude  to  any  figure,  as  of  a  limb, 
a  human  face,  or  animal  body ;  and  this  head, 
in  the  museum  at  Hartford,  is  apparently  of  this 
original.  Such  objects,  half  art  and  half  na- 
ture, are  sometimes  their  idols  \  and  this  may 
once  have  been  an  idol.  In  the  museum,  there 
is  also  a  meteorological  diary,  kept  at  Hartford, 
in  the  year  1799,  in  which  the  greatest  heat  ap- 
pears to  have  occurred  on  the  fifth  of  July,  when 
the  mercury  stood  at  95° ;  and  the  greatest 
cold  on  the  fifteenth  of  January,  when  it  was  at 
16°  below  zero. 

The  port  of  Hartford,  though  it  communi- 
cates but  inconveniently  with  the  sea,  is  yet  well 
situated  for  the  command  of  at  least  a  portion  of 
the  inland  trade.  Here  is  the  natural  place  of 
deposit  for  all  the  commodities  which  descend 
the  Connecticut ;  and  from  this  place,  according 
to  the  speculations  of  some  writers,  the  coun- 
tries on  the  upper  banks  are  to  receive  their  fo- 
reign commodities :  a  tract  of  country,  it  is 
said,  of  eight  thousand  two  hundred  and  forty 
square  miles,  will  probably  throw  its  com- 
merce within  a  few  years  into  the  city  of  Hart- 
ford. 

But,  these  expectations,  as  I  believe,  are  il- 
lusive. If  Hartford,  or  even  Middletown,  were 
either  of  them  in  all  strictness  the  natural  empo- 
rium of  these  countries,  still,  other  causes,  of  ana 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES.         139 

turewell  adapted  to  govern  the  operations  of  com- 
merce, would  probably  intervene.  The  actual 
trade  of  the  upper  countries  it.  centered  either 
in  Boston  or  New  York.  Their  commodities 
descend  the  Connecticut;  but  they  are  con- 
signed to  one  or  the  other  of  these  ports.  Bos- 
ton and  New  York  are  not  only  advantageously 
situated  as  sea-ports,  but  they  possess  capital, 
and  are  able  to  give  credit;  and  in  point  of 
fact,  the  country -trader,  on  the  upper  banks  of 
the  Connecticut,  usually  owes  his  commercial 
existence  to  this  credit.  With  respect  to  Bos- 
ton, it  is  to  be  recollected,  that  the  course  of 
the  Connecticut  is  parallel  to  the  coast  on  which 
she  is  seated,  and  at  an  average  distance  of  lit- 
tle more  than  a  hundred  miles ;  and,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Green  Mountains,  the  trade  is 
powerfully  diverted  to  Hudson's  river,  and  by 
that  communication  to  New  York. 

If  any  port  in  Connecticut  could  promise  it- 
self to  take  the  place  of  Boston  and  New  York  in 
this  regard,  that  of  New  London  is  apparently 
the  best  entitled  so  to  do ;  and  its  commu- 
nication with  the  Connecticut  is  short  and 
easy.  Even  New  London,  however,  can  scarce- 
ly indulge  such  a  hope  ;  and  it  is,  in  my  own  ap- 
prehension, more  within  the  sphere  of  probabi- 
lity, that  there  should  one  day  be  cut  a  canal,  be- 
nveen  Boston  and  Hartford,  or  between  Boston 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

and  some  other  point  on  the  Connecticut,  than 
that  the  commercial  visions  of  Hartford  should 
be  ever  realized.  The  trade,  at  present  sub- 
sisting between  Boston  and  the  banks  of  the 
Connecticut,  and  further  westward,  is  prose- 
cuted by  land  carriage.  As  to  Hartford,  she 
must  content  herself  with  the  increased  and  in- 
creasing trade  of  her  immediate  vicinity.  She 
is  herself  supplied  with  European  merchandise 
from  Boston  and  New  York. 

To  a  pottery  and  an  oil-mill,  may  be  added  a 
paper-mill,  in  the  list  of  manufactories  in  Hart- 
ford. A  woollen  manufactory  was  a  few  years 
ago  attempted  to  be  established ;  but  without 
success. 

Hartford  has  a  bank,  incorporated  in  the  year 
1792,  of  which  the  capital  stock  is  one  hun- 
dred thousand  dollars,  held  in  two  hundred  and 
fifty  shares,  of  four  hundred  dollars  each,  of 
which  no  person  or  persons,  or  body  politic  and 
corporate,  the  state  of  Connecticut  excepted, 
may  hold  at  any  time  more  than  thirty  shares. 
The  bank  is  authorised  to  offer  annually  for  sale, 
additional  shares,  to  the  amount  of  fifty  thousand 
dollars,  till  the  capital  stock  shall  be  five  hundred 
thousand  dollars. 

In  1800,  the  city  and  town  of  Hartford  con- 
tained five  thousand  three  hundred  and  forty- 
seven  inhabitants,  including  slaves.  It  is  said 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


141 


that  a  register  of  deaths,  kept  for  ten  years  suc- 
cessively, in  the  first  society,  has  exhibited  an 
average  annual  mortatity  of  one  for  every  sixty- 
five  inhabitants. 

Negroes  and  mulattoes  are  numerous  in  Hart- 
ford, of  whom  some  are  slaves,  but  the  greater 
part  are  free.  The  number  of  slaves  in  the 
county  of  Hartford,  in  the  year  1800,  was  sixty- 
seven.  Of  the  free  negroes  and  mulattoes,  ma- 
ny are  honest  and  industrious,  and  some  earn  a 
comfortable  living ;  but  too  large  a  number  are 
idle  and  dissipated.  It  is  to  be  remembered,  in 
extenuation,  that  in  a  white  community,  men 
of  their  description  must  always  fof m  a  separate 
and  depressed  class,  robbed  of  many  of  the  usual 
hopes  and  motives  that  sustain  and  influence 
others.  "As  to  more  innocent  and  elegant  hila- 
rities, these  people,  from  the  natural  cheerful- 
ness of  their  disposition,  indulge  in  them  with 
freedom.  They  have  frequent  dances,  routs 
and  galas ;  and  I  am  assured  that  mistresses  of 
families  find  cards  of  invitation,  to  these  gaie- 
ties, addressed  to.their  domestics,  and  stuck,  if  not 
in  card-racks,  at  least  in  plate-racks,  and  similar 
articles  of  kitchen-furniture. 

The  first  English  adventurers  are  said  to 
have  established  themselves  here  in  1635 ;  but 
a  Dutcli  fort,  or  fortified  factory  or  trading- 
house,  had  been  built  near  the  same  spot  a  short 


142 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


time  before.  Of  this  fort,  called  sometimes  Fort 
Hope,  and  sometimes  the  Hirse  of  Good  Hope, 
some  small  remains  are  still  visible.  The  site 
is  a  point  of  land,  within  the  city  of  Hartford, 
called  Dutch  Point.  Of  the  site  of  the  city, 
or  of  the  town,  or  perhaps  of  some  minute  part 
of  the  town,  the  Indian  name  is  said  to  have 
been  Suckiaug.* 

In  the  year  1640,  a  purchase  was  made  of 
the  Indians,  in  behalf  of  Hartford,  of  Tunxis,  a 
tract  of  land  including  the  present  towns  of  Far- 
mington  and  Southington,  and  extending  west- 
ward, as  it  is  described,  as  far  as  the  country  of 
the  Mohawks  ;f  that  is,  to  Hudson's  river. 
The  Indians,  at  the  first  settlement  of  Hartford, 
were  very  numerous  in  this  town,  and  in  its 
neighbourhood. 

Here,  as  in  Middletown,  there  is  a  little  river. 
It  divides  the  town,  to  the  southward  of  the 
state-house ;  but  though  its  high  and  romantic 
banks  have  been  celebrated,  they  are  now  lost 
among  the  houses  which  surround  the  bridge. 
Below  the  bridge  is  a  brewery. 

*  Dr.  Holmes,  American  Annals,  vol.  i.  makes  this 
word  Suckiang  ;  and  he  gives  the  same  termination  ang  to 
several  other  Indian  names.  But  he  has  been  misled, 
by  errors  of  copyists,  or  of  the  press. 

t  Trumbull,  Hist.  Conn.  Book  I.  chapter  vii. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Pursuing  the  margin  of  the  river,  to  where  it 
enters  the  Connecticut,  we  are  led  to  a  pottery, 
and  to  a  horizontal  oil-mill,  both  seated  on  the  lat- 
ter. The  ground  in  this  vicinity  is  still  unco- 
vered with  buildings,  and  exhibits  some  rural 
scenery.  In  returning  toward  the  state-house, 
we  meet  with  the  ancient  mansion  of  Mr.  Wyl- 
lys,  built  about  the  year  1637,  for  Mr.  George 
Wyllys,  an  English  gentleman  of  fortune,  who 
migrated  in  1638,  and  was  governor  of  the 
colony  in  1642.  The  environs  of  the  city 
are  all  pleasant ;  but,  toward  the  water,  there 
are  some  wet  grounds,  which  it  is  in  the  care 
of  the  corporation  to  drain, 

In  the  burying-ground,  adjoining  the  first 
church,  are  the  following  epitaphs ; 

'•*  AN  Epitaph  on  Mr.  Samuel  Stone,  deceased 
"  ye  61  yeare  of  his  age,  July  20,  1663. 

"  New  England's  glory,  and  her  radiant  crowne, 

"  Was  he,  who,  now,  on  softest  bed  of  downe, 

"  'Till  glorious  resurrection-morn  appeare, 

"  Doth  safely,  sweetly,  sleep  in  Jesus  here  : 

"  In  Nature's  solid  art,  and  reasoning  well, 

"  'Tis  known  beyond  compare  he  did  excell ; 

"  Errors  corrupt,  by   sinnewous  dispute, 

u  He  did  oppugne,  and  clearly  them  confute  ; 

"  Above  all  things,  he  Christ,  his  lord,  preferred  ; 

i{  HARTFORD,  thy  richest  jewel's  here  interred," 


J44  TRAVELS  THROUGH  1'ATtl' 

The  Reverend  Mr.  Stone  was  educated  at 
Emmanuel  College,  in  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, and  went  to  the  colonies  direct  from 
England. 

To  some,  it  may  afford  gratification  to  read 
the  inscription,  also  in  this  bury  ing- ground,  in 
honour  of  the  Reverend  Mr.  Elhanan  Win- 
chester : 

"  The  General  Convention  of  the  Universal 
"  Churches,  in  memory  of  their  dear  departed 
"  brother,  the  Rev.  Elhanan  Winchester,  erect- 
"  ed  this  monumental  stone.  He  died  April 
"  18M,  1797,  aged  46  years  : 

"  'Twas  thine  to   preach,  with  animated    zeal, 
"  The  glories  of  the  restitution-morn  ; 

"  When  sin,  death,  hell,  the  pow'r  of  Christ  shall  feel, 
"  And  light,  life,  immortality,  be  born." 

The  last  that  I  shall  transcribe  affords  no 
inelegant  specimen  of  that  style  of  epitaph  which 
has  been  called,  I  think,  the  complimentary  ;  nor 
of  that  versification  and  sentiment,  which  have, 
the  one  a  sweetness,  and  the  other  a  gallantry, 
in  some  degree  peculiar  to  the  age  which  has 
preceded  our  own.  Other  epitaphs  of  that  age 
will  be  recalled  to  the  reader's  memory  by  the 
present : 
1 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

v'  SO  fair,  so  young,  so  innocent,  so  sweet, 
*'  So  ripe  a  judgment,  and  so  fair  a  wit, 
"  Required  at  least  an  age  in  one  to  meet: 
"  In  her  they  met ;  but  long  they  could  not  stay  ; 
"  'Twas  gold  too  fine  to  mix  without  allay." 

"  Mrs.  Mary  Hamlin^  the  virtuous  consort 
of  Jabel  ffamlin,  esquire ',  died  Ap.  3d,  1736, 
in  ye  22e/  year  of  her  age." 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Connecticut — Hartford  Poetry. 

IN  speaking  of  the  newspapers  published  in 
Hartford,  I  did  not  forget  the  attention  that  may 
be  due  to  the  exhibitions  of  genius  by  which  they 
have  been  occasionally  distinguished ;  but  I 
purposely  reserved  that  head  for  the  substance  of 
a  separate  chapter. 

The  exhibitions  to  which  I  allude,  and  of  which 
I  shall  subjoin  some  examples,  are  poetical,  po- 
litical and  sportive.  They  will  be  found  to 
exhibit,  in  one  direction,  a  licence  of  thought, 
from  which  the  reader  of  taste  and  judgment 
will  unquestionably  withhold  his  applause ;  but 
they  will  also  be  found  to  afford  some  very  fa- 
vor., i.  r 


146         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

vourable  specimens  of  diction,  versification  and 
happy  ridicule.  They  are  generally  party  pro- 
ductions, and  upon  their  candour  and  justice 
we  are  not  always  called  to  decide. 

The  particular  poems,  of  which  I  am  speak- 
ing, were  published  from  time  to  time,  under 
the  uniform  title  of  the  Echo  ;  and  it  was  the 
scheme  of  their  composition  to  burlesque  and 
condemn,  as  well  the  language  as  the  senti- 
ments, of  the  party  against  which  they  were  di- 
rected ;  that  is,  the  party  which  has  directed 
the  councils  of  the  country  for  the  last  seven  or 
eight  years.  One  object,  undeniably  laudable, 
was  that  of  holding  up  to  derision  a  taste  for 
the  bombast  and  the  bathos,  very  prevalent 
among  the  writers  of  the  United  States.  In 
relating  the  simplest  daily  occurrences,  it  is 
common  to  see  them  using  language  equally 
lofty  and  illiterate ;  and  of  such  occurrences 
none  seems  to  arouse  their- unhappy  genius 
more  decidedly  than  a  thunder-storm.  It  was  a 
narrative  of  this  description,  that  first,  according 
to  the  authors  of  the  echoes  "  furnished  them, 
"  not  only  with  the  hint,  but  with  a  suitable 
"  subject  for  the  commencement  of  their  plan.'r 
The  poems  appear  to  have  been  written  between 
the  years  1791  and  1798. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  ^47 

Of  the    ridiculous   in  description,    and  the 
manner  in  which  it  was  ridiculed  by  the  echo, 
the  following  are  respectively  examples  : 
"  Boston,  July  14,   1791. 

"  On  Tuesday  last,  about  4  o'clock,  P.  M. 
"  came  on  a  smart  shower  of  rain,  attended  with 
"  lightning  and  thunder,  no  ways  remarkable. 
"  The  clouds  soon  dissipated,  and  the  appear- 
"  ance  of  the  azure  vault,  left  trivial  hopes  of 
"  further   needful  supplies  from   the  uncorked 
"  bottles  of  heaven.     In  a  few  moments  the  ho- 
"  rizon  was  again  overshadowed,  and  an  almost 
"  impenetrable  gloom  mantled  the  face  of  the 
"  skies.  The  wind  frequently  shifting  from  one 
"  point  to  another,  wafted  the  clouds  in  various 
"  directions,  until  at   last  they  united   in  one 
"  common  centre,  and  shrouded  the  visible  globe 
"  in  thick  darkness.     The  attendant  lightning, 
"  with  the  accompanying  thunder,  brought  forth 
"  from  the  treasures  that  embattled  elements  to 
"  a\vful   conflict,    were   extremely   vivid,    and 
"  amazing   loud.     Those  buildings  that  were 
"  defended   by  electric    rods,  appeared   to   be 
"  wrapped  in  sheets  of  livid  flame,  and  a  flood 
"  of  the  pure  fire  rolled  its   burning   torrents 
"  down  them  with  alarming  violence.  The  majes- 
"  tic  roar  of  disploding  thunders,  now  bursting 
"  with  a  sudden  crash,  and  now  wasting  the  rum- 
"  bling  ECHO  of  their  sounds  in   other  lands, 


148         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  added  indescribable  grandeur  to  the  sublime 
"  scene.  The  windows  of  the  upper  regions  ap- 
"  peared  as  thrown  wide  open,  and  the  trembling 
"  cataract  poured  impetuous  down.  More  sa- 
"  lutary  showers,  and  more  needed,  have  not 
"  been  experienced  this  summer.  Several  pre- 
"  vious  weeks  had  exhibited  a  melancholy  sight: 
"  the  verdure  of  fields  was  nearly  destroyed ; 
"  and  the  patient  husbandman  almost  expe- 
"  rienced  despair.  Two  beautiful  rainbows,  the 
"  one  existing  in  its  native  glories,  and  the 
"  other  a  splendid  reflection  of  primitive  colours, 
"  closed  the  magnificent  picture,  and  presented 
"  to  the  contemplative  mind,  the  angel  of  mer- 
"  cy,  clothed  with  the  brilliance  of  this  irradi- 
"  ated  arch,  and  dispensing  felicity  to  assembled 
"  worlds. 

"  It  is  not  unnatural  to  expect  that  the  thun- 
"  der  storm  would  be  attended  with  some  da- 
"  mage.  We  hear  a  barn  belonging  to  Mr. 
"  Wythe,  of  Cambridge,  caught  fire  from  the 
"  lightning,  which  entirely  consumed  the  same. 
"  together  with  several  tons  of  hay,"  &c. 

Hartford,  August  %,   1791. 
ON  Tuesday  last,  great  Sol,  with  piercing  eye, 
Pursued  his  journey  through  the  vaulted  sky, 
And  in  his  car  effulgent  roll'd  his  way 
Four  hours  beyond  the  burning  zone  of  day : 


OP  THE  UNTTED  STATES. 


149 


When  lo  !  a  cloud,  o'ershadowing  all  the  plain, 
From  countless  pores  perspir'd  a  liquid  rain, 
While  from  its  cracks  the  lightnings  made  a  peep. 
And  chit-chat  thunders  rock'd  our  fears  asleep  ! 
But,  soon  the  vapoury  fog  dispers'd  in  air, 
And  left  the  azure  blue-ey'd  concave  bare  ; 
Even  the  last  drop  of  hope,  which  dripping  skies 
Gave  for  a  moment  to  our  straining  eyes, 
Like  Boston  Rum,  from  heaven's  junk  bottles  broke, 
(Lost  all  the  corks,)  and  vanish'd  into  smoke. 

But,  swift  from  worlds  unknown,  a  fresh  supply 
Of  vapour  dimm'd  the  great  horizon's-eye  ; 
The  crazy  clouds,  by  shifting  zephyrs  driven, 
Wafted  their  courses  through  the  high-arch'd  heaven, 
Till  pil'd  aloft,  in  one  stupendous  heap, 
The  seen  and  unseen  worlds  grew  dark,  and  nature  'gat> 

to  weep. 

Attendant  lightnings  stream'd  their  tails  afar, 
And  social  thunders  wak'd  ethereal  war, 
From  dark  deep  pockets  brought  their  treasur'd  store, 
Embattled  elements  increas'd  the  roar — 
Red  crinkling  fires  expended  all  their  force, 
And  tumbling  rumblings  steer'd  their  headlong  course. 

N.  B.    At  Cambridge  town,  the  self-same  day, 
A  barn  was  burnt  well  fill'd  with  hay  ; 
Some  say  the  lightning  turn'd  it  red  ; 
Some  say  the  thunder  struck  it  dead  ; 
Some  say  it  made  the  cattle  stare ; 
And  some,  it  kill'd  an  aged  mare  ; — 
But  we  expect  the  truth  to  learn, 
From  Mr.  Wythe,  who  own'd  the  barn. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Much  of  the  humour  of  these  productions  ne- 
cessarily arising  out  of  local  and  temporary  allu- 
sion, to  things,  persons  and  events,  the  extracts, 
capable  of  giving  pleasure  to  distant  readers 
must  be  limited.  It  also  increases  the  difficulty 
with  myself,  that  in  order  to  relish  the  echo,  it  is 
necessary  to  give  with  it  the  matter  echoed;  and 
this  done,  the  extracts  become  too  bulky.  In 
the  following  extract  of  an  echo  which  appeared 
in  March,  1792,  there  is  certainly  much  spirit. 
The  original  wras  an  essay,  by  a  Mr.  Bracken- 
ridge,  On  the  Indian  War^  and  began  with  the 
words  /  can  easily  excuse ',  &c. 

I  GRANT  my  pardon  to  that  dreaming  clan, 
Who  think  that  Indians  have  the  rights  of  man ; 
Who  deem  the  dark-skinn'd  chiefs,  those  miscreants 

base  1 

Have  souls  like  ours,  and  are  of  human  race  ; 
And  say  the  scheme  so  wise,  so  nobly  plann'd, 
For  rooting  out  those  serpents  from  the  land, 
To  kill  their  squaws,  their  children  yet  unborn, 
To  burn  their  wigwams,  and  pull  up  their  com ; 
By  sword  and  fire  to  purge  the  unhallow'd  train, 
And  kindly  send  them  to  a  world  of  pain, 
Is  vile,  unjust,  absurd  : — as  if  our  God 
One  single  thought  on  Indians  e'er  bestow'd, 
To  them  his  care  extends,  or  even  knew, 
(Before  Columbus  told  him,)  where  they  grew  I 

O  could  I,  pois'd  on  Observation's  wings, 
Point  whence  the  Indian's  ruthless  temper  springs. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

That  ruthless  temper  which,  like  bear  unchain'd, 
Is  proof  to  kindness,  nor  by  fear  restrain'd  ; 
Could  that  vast  knowledge,  which  my  skull  contains, 
Once  find  its  passage  from  my  wilder'd  brains, 
And  spring  to  view,  with  recollection  fraught, 
Of  all  I've  ever  dreamt,  or  ever  thought ; 
Then  would  I  tell  of  homicides  so  dire, 
Of  tom'hawk,  scalping-knife,  and  torturing  fire  ; 
Of  wicked  pole,  at  the  Miami  town, 
Which  Harmar  went  on  purpose  to  pull  down  ; 
While,  rous'd  to  pity  by  the  potent  strain, 
Humanity  herself  would  grow  humane  ; 
The  soul  would  shudder,  and  the  cheek  turn  pale, 
And  uncork'd  feelings  foam  like  bottled  ale  ! 
Not  for  those  soul-less  heathen  of  the  wood, 
But  Christian  folk  of  kindred  flesh  and  blood, 
Pity,  meek  habitant  of  yonder  sky, 
Wipes  the  full  tear-drop  from  her  dewy  eye, 
As,  from  her  throne  of  never  fading  light, 
O'er  western  worlds  she  bends  her  anxious  sight ! 
Thy  lambs,  Kentucky  !  claim  her  darling  care, 
Expos'd  to  all  the  miseries  of  war ; 
Unkindly  left,  without  defence  or  stay, 
To  savage  wolves  a  weak  unshielded  prey ; 
Those  savage  wolves,  in  cruelty  grown  old, 
Who  torture  prisoners  when  their  blood  is  cold. 
All  this, — while  on  our  part,  so  mild  and  good, 
No  one  e'er  thought  of  spilling  Indian  blood  ! 

But,  we  must  now  turn  to  passages,  of  which 
the  poetical  merit  is  often  not  defective,  but  in 
which  there  occurs  the  license  already  inti- 
mated :  it  consists  in  scriptural  allusions  and 


JL52 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


parodies,  of  any  thing  but  a  serious  and  reveren- 
tial description,  and  such  as  an  English  public,  of 
all  ranks,  persuasions  and  morals,  will  unanimous- 
ly denominate  profane.  They  incessantly  recur  in 
these  productions,  and  present  themselves,  not 
as  echoes^  but  as  original  features.  The  fol- 
lowing is  an  example : 

— BUT  LIBERTY  cheers  up  this  vale  of  woe, 
With  fallen  angels  fills  the  world  below, 
Makes  us  feel  tuneful  as  the  toad  of  even,* 
And  bears  us  iioose-back\  to  the  joys  of  heav'n  ! 


Long  since,  thy  gentile  sons,  O  Athens !  paid 
Their  pure  devotions  to  the  sainted  maid, 
Her  fane  adorn'd  with  richest  spoils  of  war, 
And  heap'd  their  off'rings  round  her  splendid  car ; 
And,  what  must  yield  her  goddess-ship  delight, 
Four  thousand  men  in  chains,  (a  pretty  sight,) 
Around  her  shrine,  with  steps  sedate  and  even, 
Solemn  as  saints  who've  miss'd  the  road  to  heav'n, 
In  pairs  advanc'd,  as  Noah's  cattle  mov'd 
"From  the  green  pastures  and  the  meads  they  lov'd  ;" 
While  the  good  sire,  conspicuous  at  their  head, 
In  Sunday  wig,  the  strange  procession  led, 
And  Shem  and  Ham  and  Japhet  in  a  row, 
With  goads  and  cudgels,  clos'd  the  goodly  show, 
Sore  vex'd  at  Captain  Noah's  plan  to  roam 
And  leave  their  sweethearts  and  their  Avives  at  home, 

"  *  Commonly  called  the  tree-toad" 

f  Picapack.     The  phrase  in  the  text  is  from  papoose,  a  word 
by  which,  as  it  ia  said,  some  of  the  Indians  mean  a  child. 

2 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Not  relishing  a  pleasure-voyage  with  hogs, 
Skunks,  toads  and  rattle-snakes  and  prairie  dogs; 
Their  lives  at  stake,  their  property  afloat, 
Raw  hands  on  board,  no  compass  and  no  boat  ! 


Moses,  beholding  the  land  of  Canaan,  affords 
a  simile  under  which  to  paint  a  political  oppo- 
nent: 

LIKE  Moses  on  Mount  Pisgah's  height, 
Through  whey  and  rennet  darts  his  eye, 
And  sees  neiv-miik  beyond  the  sky. 

In  a  word,  among  other  remarkable  passages 
of  this  kind,  may  be  found-—"  First-born  de- 
"  stroyed  —  Hand-writing  on  the  wall  —  Ghost 
"  of  Samuel  —  Gideon  and  the  men  of  Sue- 
"  coth  —  Gog  and  Magog  —  Levite  and  hisconcu- 
"  bine  —  Nebuchadnezzar's  golden  image  — 
"  Pharaoh  and  his  plagues  —  Quails  and  manna 
"  —  Darkness  in  Egypt  —  Image  of  Dagon  mu- 
"  tilated  by  the  ark  —  Dishite,  a  word  derived 
"  from  the  Hebrew  —  David  and  Uriah  —  Elijah's 
"  little  cloud  —  Elijah  in  the  wilderness  — 
"  Builders  of  Babel  —  Balaam's  ass  —  Dispersion 
"  at  Babel  —  Burning  of  Gomorrah  —  Adam  and 
"  Eve  become  tailors  —  Adam  in  petticoats." 
Noah's  ark  is  in  particular  favour  ;  and  the  fol- 


VOL.   I. 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PAKT 

lowing  is  a  second  specimen  of  its  celebration 
in  verse  : 

THUS,  when  old  Noah  op'd  his  gate, 
And  advertis'd  to  take  in  freight, 
Swift,  at  the  all-inviting  sound, 
All  kinds  of  cattle  throng'd  around, 
From  which  the  patriarch  cull'd  the  best, 
And  let  th*  deluge  take  the  rest. 

Lastly,  to  hold  forth  a  party  of  political  oppo- 
nents to  contempt,  it  is  insinuated,  that  at  a  con- 
vivial meeting,  the  tavern-bill  was  left  unpaid  ; 
and  this  charge  is  versified,  with  the  embellish- 
ment of  an  allusion  to  Isaiah,  ch.  Iv.  1. 

AT  Wallingford  it  first  broke  out, 
And  show'd  itself  in  noise  and  rout ; 
Men  grew  voracious,  ate  like  swine, 
Drank  freely  different  sorts  of  ivme, 
O'ercharg'd,  and  snor'd  till  break  of  day, 
Then  quitted,  but  forgot  to  pay  ; 
Following  the  prophet's  sage  advice, 
To  buy  their  milk  without  a  firice. 

It  is  not  peculiar,  however,  to  the  poets  of 
Hartford,  nor  of  Connecticut,  to  fall  into  the 
practice  of  which  the  evidence  is  before  us. 
Scriptural  texts  and  allusions  are  used  conti- 
nually, throughout  the  whole  of  the  United 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  ^55 

* 

States.  It  had  its  origin  with  the  puritans,  and 
by  them  and  their  descendants  it  appears  to  have 
been  spread.*  So  general  has  it  become,  that 

*  The  following  anecdote  has  been  lately  pronounced 
by  a  Boston  critic  (Monthly  Anthology  and  Boston  Re- 
view) to  be  "  no  bad  specimen  of  puritanical  humour :" 
Dr.  Mather,  of  Boston,  one  of  the  early  puritans,  had 
acquired  the  reputation  of  constantly  preaching  hospi- 
tality, but  never  practising  it.  The  Reverend  Mr. 
Ward,  another  puritan,  settled  on  the  Connecticut,  and 
an  old  chum  of  the  doctor's,  resolved  on  putting  the 
unfavourable  part  of  this  character  to  the  test,  and  ac- 
cordingly went  to  his  house  in  disguise.  After  being 
reproachfully  ordered  from  the  doctor's  door,  and  de- 
nied, one  after  another,  lodging,  bread,  meat  and  money*, 
"  Sir,  since,"  said  Ward,  "  you  will  not  give  lodgings, 
'<  nor  money,  nor  food,  nor  drink  to  me,  I  pray  for  your 
"  advice  ;  will  you  direct  me  to  a  stew  ?"  The  doctor 
cried  out,  "  Vagrant  of  all  vagrants !  the  curse  of  God. 
"  will  fall  on  thee  ;  thou  art  one  of  the  non-elects !  Dost 
»'  thou  suppose,  villain,  I  am  acquainted  with  bad  houses  ? 
"  What  dost  thou  want  at  a  stew  ?"  Mr.  Ward  replied, 
"  I  am  hungry,  weary,  thirsty,  moneyless  and  almost 
"  naked  ;  and  Solomon,  the  wisest  king  the  Jews  ever 
"  had,  tells  me  and  you,  that  a  whore  ivill  bring  a  man  to 
"  a  morsel  of  bread  at  the  last."  Now,  Dr.  Mather 
suspected  a  deception,  and  cried,  "  Tu  es  War- 
"  donus  vel  Diabolus"*  Mr.  Ward  laughed,  and  the 
doctor  took  him  in  and  gave  him  all  he  wanted ;  and 
.Mr.  Ward  preached  for  the  doctor  next  duy,  both  morn- 
ing and  evening. 

*  i.  e.  "  Either  von  are  FFV.rrf,  or  yon  are  tho  7>/.'f'7 


TRAVELS  tHROUGH  PART 

scarcely  the  most  common-place  remark,  or  the 
most  simple  narrative,  goes  to  the  press  without 
something  of  the  kind.  If,  for  example,  an 
unusual  quantity  of  fish  be  taken,  every  news- 
paper will  convey  the  intelligence  under  the  title 
of  the  miraculous  draught.* 

In  seasoning  a  jest,  or  composing  a  drinking- 
toast,  (that  favourite  exercise  of  the  inventive 
genius  of  these  countries,)  scripture,  scriptural 
phrase,  scripture  history,  or  scripture  doctrine, 
is  the  common  resource.  Of  all  this,  some  ex- 
amples may  incidentally  present  themselves  in 
the  succeeding  pages,  but  I  shall  also  produce 
a  few,  in  direct  illustration. 

At  Toringford,  in  Connecticut,  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1807,  there  was  drank  this  senti- 
ment, and  in  this  language,  "  The  state  of 
"  Connecticut — may  regeneration  become  ge- 

*  An  example  accidentally  presents  itself,  and  at  the 
same  time  enables  me  to  afford  the  reader  some  account 
of  the  streaked  bass  fishery  on  the  Connecticut  shore  : 

SALEM,  November  30. 

Afiraculoiis  draught  of  fishes. — The  streaked  bass  fishe- 
ries on  the  Connecticut  shore  have  been  as  successful  as 
those  on  the  banks.  On  the  9th,  10th,  and  llth  of  this 
month,  the  number  taken  in  four  seines,  in  Stonington, 
amounted  to  40,300.  On  the  12th,  10,000,  and  on  the 
13th,  18,000  ;  making  a  grand  total  of  68,300  bass,  which 
averaged  at5lb.  each,  amounts  to  341,500lbs. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.         £57 

•'  neral,  where  it  is  so  much  preached  !"  and  at 
Wallingford,  about  the  same  time,  the  follow- 
ing : — "  Connecticut  amongst  her  sister  states  in 
"  Congress — 0  Lucifer,  son  of  the  morning, 
"  how  art  thou  fallen!"  More  recently,  some 
of  the  opposite  party  took  occasion  to  drink  to 
"  His  Excellency  Governor  Jonathan  Trum- 
"  bull — a  star  in  the  east — whither  -wise  men 
"  may  go  to  learn." — The  second  toast,  as 
appears  from  a  commentator,  is  "  a  lamentation 
"  over  the  departed  glory  of  the  state,  because 
"  our  representatives  in  congress  voted  for  Co- 
"  lonel  Burr,  instead  of  Mr.  Jefferson:  it  might 
"  perhaps  have  been  a  just  subject  of  lamenta- 
"  tion,"  he  adds,  "  that  they  were  reduced  to 
"  the  necessity  of  voting  for  either."  The  third 
toast  is  intended  in  compliment  to  Governor 
Trumbull,  and  the  whole  of  New  England,  (or 
the  eastern  states,)  on  occasion  of  their  re- 
spective efforts  in  resistance  of  the  continuance 
and  execution  of  the  celebrated  embargo  acts. 

In  New  York,  I  have  seen  an  electioneering 
hand-bill,  proclaiming  the  great  resurrection, 
and  calling  the  federalists  to  the  last  judgment ; 
and,  of  this  jeu  tfesprit,  the  language  was  a 
cento  of  scriptural  phrases.  In  Philadelphia,  the 
following  paragraph  was  printed  in  a  newspa- 
per, entitled  the  Aurora,  on  the  day  which 
terminated  the  presidency  of  General  Wash- 
ington : — 


158  TltAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  *  Lord,  now  lettest  thmt  thy  servant  depart 
"  *  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  salva- 
"  *  tion?  was  the  pious  ejaculation  of  a  man  who 
"  beheld  a  flood  of  happiness  rushing  in  upon 
"  mankind  ;  if  ever  there  was  a  time  that  would 
"  licence  the  reiteration  of  the  exclamation,  that 
"  time  is  now  arrived ;  for  the  man  who  is  the 
"  source  of  all  the  misfortunes  of  our  country, 
"  is  this  day  reduced  to  a  level  with  his  fellow- 
"  citizens,  and  is  no  longer  possessed  of  power 
"  to  multiply  evils  upon  the  United  States.  If 
"  ever  there  was  a  period  for  rejoicing,  this  is 
"  the  moment !  Every  heart,  in  unison  with  the 
"  freedom  and  happiness  of  the  people,  ought 
"  to  beat  high  with  exultation,  that  the  name  of 
"  Washington,  from  this  day,  ceases  to  give  cur- 
"  rency  to  political  iniquity,  and  to  legalize  cor- 
u  ruption  !  A  new  sera  is  now  opening  upon  us, 
"  an  aera  that  promises  much  to  the  people  ;  for 
"  public  measures  now  stand  upon  their  own 
rt  merits,  and  nefarious  projects  can  no  longer 
"  be  supported  by  a  name.  When  a  retrospect 
"  is  taken  of  the  Washington  administration, 
"  for  eight  years,  it  is  a  subject  of  the  greatest 
"  astonishment,  that  a  single  individual  could 
"  have  cankered  the  principles  of  republicanism 
'  in  an  enlightened  people,  and  should  have 
"  carried  his  designs  against  the  public  liberty, 
"  so  far,  as  to  have  put  in  jeopardy  its  veiy  ex- 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

"  istence ;  such,  however,  are  the  facts,  and 
"  with  these  staring  us  in  the  face,  this  day 
"  ought  to  be  a  jubilee  in  the  United  States." 

If  we  should  now  inquire  into  the  occasion  of 
a  practice,  which,  in  England,  the  most  vul- 
gar and  least  reverent  critic  will  condemn, 
but  which,  in  the  United  States,  is  followed 
without  ill  design,  and  beheld  without  reproof, 
we  shall  find  it,  not  where  we  should  naturally 
seek  it,  in  the  public  contempt  of  revealed  reli-' 
gion,  but  rather,  in  what  we  may  venture  to  call 
a  too  familiar  acquaintance  with  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, or  at  least  a  too  limited  one  with  profane 
authors. 

It  is  the  province  of  the  imagination  to 
employ  itself  upon  those  images  which  it  is  the 
province  of  another  faculty  of  the  mind  to 
store.  It  operates  by  combining,  not  by  creat- 
ing. It  takes  that  which  it  finds. 

But,  the  imagination  will  not  always  be  se- 
rious ;  and  if  it  sometimes  deals  in  spirituals,  it 
will  also  sometimes  deal  in  seculars.  Variety  of 
subject,  however,  insures  no  variety  of  image, 
from  him  whose  imagination  is  directed  by  a 
single  course  of  study.  The  best  that  he  can 
do,  is  to  turn  and  shift  his  all,  and  adapt  it  as  well 
as  he  can  to  the  occasion.  It  is  thus  that  some 
poor  actor,  now  in  tragedy,  and  now  in  farce, 
employs  his  only  wig,  this  moment  to  command 


160 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


our  gravity,  and  the  next  to  provoke  us  to 
laughter.  At  •  first,  it  is  set  straight  on  his 
head  ;  next,  it  is  turned  inside  out ;  and  next, 
hind  part  before.  One  moment,  the  curls  fall 
solemn  on  his  shoulder,  and  another,  they  dan- 
gle round  his  nose. 

But,  it  is  not  always  to  a  limited  reading,  and 
much  less  to  any  extraordinary  addiction  to  the- 
ological reading  or  study,  that  we  are  to  attri- 
bute, in  the  circle  of  writers  referred  to,  the  end- 
less use  and  abuse  of  scriptural  and  pulpit 
image  and  phraseology.  Much  proceeds  from 
habits  of  quotation,  imitation  and  parody ;  ha- 
bits which  exist  in  the  most  inconceivable  ex- 
cess among  too  many  of  the  writers  of  the 
United  States.  To  use  any  words  that  the  me- 
mory can  be  made  to  supply,  rather  than  to 
task  their  faculties  for  original  terms  and  modes 
of  expression,  is  at  present  their  established 
practice  :  in  consequence,  they  often  quote  that 
which  from  being  quoted  becomes  the  most 
risibly  trivial.  The  habit  is  acquired  at  college, 
and  the  offenders  confirm  one  another  in  its 
support.  The  youth  of  the  passing  day  may 
fairly  offer  in  his  defence,  that  what  he  does,  is 
done  under  the  example  of  most  of  those,  to 
whom  it  is  natural  he  should  look  up  as  autho- 
rities in  politics,  divinity  and  letters. 

1 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATKS 

There  is  a  third  source  of  the  evil,  and  this 
is  in  false  taste  ;  in  a  ravenous  appetite  for  the 
figurative  ;  in  a  vitiated  appetite  for  tumidity 
and  inflation,  whether  of  American  or  European 
growth.  Criticism  and  practice,  in  these  cases, 
go  hand  in  hand ;  and  what  follies  the  one 
commits,  the  other  praises. 

Now,  a  taste  for  the  tumid  and  inflated,  a  false 
taste  and  ravening  for  the  florid  and  figurative, 
enforce  a  writer  to  the  temptation  of  gathering 
up  and  misapplying  that  imagery  which  is  met 
with  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  His  aim  is  to  ag- 
grandize his  subject,  and  he  is  neither  judicious 
nor  delicate  in  the  means. 

The  last  consideration  has  a  relationship,  in  a 
particular  manner  local,  to  a  fourth  source  of 
the  evil ;  and  which  fourth  source  consists  in  an 
extravagant  admiration  of  political  visions,  and 
political  idols.  Of  this  position,  which  might 
be  sustained  by  voluminous  evidence,  other 
chapters  than  the  present  will  contain  some  une- 
quivocal proofs.  Into  the  cause,  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  inquire ;  but  the  fact,  combined  with  a 
false  taste  for  the  sublime,  satisfactorily  accounts 
for  the  impressing  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  into  the 
political  service.  The  worship  or  the  god  must 
be  exalted,  at  all  risks,  and  at  all  expense. 

To  this  remark,  even  the  imagery  in  the 
following  passage,  is  subject ;  but  we  have  here 

VOL  i.  x 


162         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

an  example,  not  to  censure,  but  to  praise.  The 
imagery  is  scriptural ;  but,  in  its  application, 
there  is  nothing,  either  of  that  levity,  or  that 
extravagance,  of  which,  among  other  par- 
ticulars, we  have  seen  reason  to  complain. 
It  elevates  the  subject  of  discourse,  but  not 
more  than  it  is  natural,  and  therefore  allowable  in 
a  partisan  to  do.  It  occurs  in  an  oration,  deli- 
vered on  a  day  of  rejoicing,  on  occasion  of  the 
restoration  of  commerce,  at  the  termination  of 
the  embargo  : 

"  Commerce,  peace,  and  federalism,  are 
"  again  returning  to  bless  our  country.  Fede- 
"  ralism,  which  has  for  more  than  eight  years 
"  been  banished  from  the  ark  of  the  constitu- 
"  tion ;  and  finding  no  rest  to  the  sole  of  her 
"  foot — her  nature  unchanged  by  wandering 
"  over  the  dark  chaotic  mass  of  a  democratic 
"  world — returns  at  length,  and  lo !  in  her 
"  mouth  an  olive  branch"* 

Returning  more  strictly  to  the  poets  of  Hart- 
ford, I  conclude  my  chapter  with  two  extracts, 
illustrative  at  once  of  their  verses  and  their  opi- 
nions. The  first  is  a  character  of  Hartford,  which 
they  put  into  the  mouth  of  their  enemies  ;  and 
the  second,  a  character  of  the  state,  which  they 
utter  from  their  own  : 

*  Address  of  D.  W.  Lewis,  Esq.  10th  June,  1809,  at 
Geneva,  in  the  county  of  Ontario,  New  York. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


I. 


163 


HARTFORD  !  curst  corner  of  the  spacious  earth  ! 
Where  each  dire  mischief  ripens  into  birth  ; 
Whence  dark  cabals  against  our  statesmen  rise 
And  spread  a  black'ning  cloud  o'er  eastern  skies  : 
Whose  impious  sons,  by  decency  unsway'd, 
Nor  check'd  by  prudence,  nor  by  fear  dismay'd, 
Each  solemn  thing  have  turn'd  to  constant  jest, 
From  John  Monier  to  Boston's  civic  feast  j 
From  Pokahontas'  breed,  prime  lords  of  all, 
To  Hancock  glorious  at  his  Negro  ball  : 
For  still  proud  Echo  wakes  the  tuneful  strain, 
And  ******  pun,  and  C******  prints  in  vain ! 
Hartford !  detested  more  by  faction's  race, 
Than  harden'd  sinner  hates  the  call  of  grace  ! 
Not  more  the  owl  abhors  meridian  light, 
Not  more  the  generous  steed  the  camel's  sight, 
Not  more  the  skulking  thief  the  fatal  tree, 
Than  faction's  brood  abhor  thy  sons  and  thee  ! 

II. 

CONNECTICUT  !— thou  wond'rous  state. 
Forever  firm,  forever  great ! 
Oft  faction  here  her  tool  employs, 
And  oft  we  hear  a  mighty  noise, 
That  government  is  full  of  evil, 
The  nation  running  to  the  devil—- 
The  blindest  eyes  begin  to  wink, 
The  thickest  skulls  begin  to  think, 
The  little  ones  are  growing  big, 
"  The  tail  has  got  on  t'other  pig;" — 


But  when  the  hour  of  trial's  o'er, 
These  short  liv'd  tempests  cease  to  roar, 
Sedition's  vermin  sneak  from  day, 
And  all  goes  on  the  good  old  way — 
Still  the  old  council  keep  their  seats  ; 
Still  wisdom  there  with  honour  meets ; 
Still  Granger  keeps  his  humble  station, 
Just  at  the  tail  of  nomination  ; 
Prepar'd,  as  seasons  come  about, 
Once-  more  to  slip  and  tumble  out. 

Here,  mid  the  vast  and  wild  uproar, 
Which  rends  the  earth's  remotest  shore, 
This  small,  this  blest,  secluded  state, 
Still  meets  unmov'd  the  blasts  of  fate- 
Here  justice  still  extends  her  sway, 
Here  virtue  sheds  her  blissful  ray, 
Churches  our  villages  adorn, 
And  infidels  are  laugh'd  to  scorn  : 
Almighty  God,  still  let  us  lie, 
Safe  as  the  apple  of  thine  eye ; 
Still,  still  protect  our  happy  land, 
Within  the  hollow  of  thine  hand  ! 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Connecticut — Theatrical  Prohibition. 

THERE  is  no  play-house  in  Hartford,  nor 
in  any  other  place  in  Connecticut,  nor  are  any 
theatrical  shows,  where  money  is  received  for 
entrance,  allowed  by  law. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

Wits,  however,  as  it  should  seem,  are  destined 
to  be  wicked,  and  this,  whatever  may  be  the 
amount  of  their  political  and  even  spiritual  or- 
thodoxy ;  for,  about  the  year  1793,  and  subse- 
quently, the  poets  of  Hartford  appear  to  have 
made  tolerably  free  with  all  the  ancient  notions 
of  their  countrymen,  upon  the  subject  of  the 
stage. 

In  October,  1791,  a  to wn- meeting  was  held 
in  Boston,  at  which  there  was  a  struggle  for  the 
preservation  of  the  theatre  in  that  metropolis.  At 
that  meeting,  a  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  a  gentle- 
man of  the  anti-federal  party,  took  the  part  of  a' 
decided  enemy.  The  friends  of  the  drama  re- 
fused to  hear  him ;  and  this  event  was  indig- 
nantly and  most  pathetically  deplored  by  one  of 
his  admirers.  But,  at  Hartford,  the  part  of  the 
eulogium  which  it  contained  was  echoed  in  these 
verses  : 

LONG  may  our  souls  the  fond  remembrance  flrovr, 
How,  with  a  bosom  crowded  full  of  love, 
To  blast  a  wicked  stage  his  voice  he  rear'd 
And  yet  that  thundering  voice  could  not  be  heard  1 
With  equal  toil,  half-burn'd  with  Etna's  heat, 
Thus  strives  Enceladus  to  find  his  feet, 
While  o'er  his  back,  convuls'd  with  dreadful  pain, 
A  fiery  deluge  floats  along  the  plain ; 
Around  th'  affrighted  boobies  stand  and  stare, 
And  ask,  what  dreadful  creature  tumbles  there  ! 


166         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

Was  he  in  fault,  that  he  should  wish  t'  impart 
The  smoking  feelings  of  his  red-hot  heart  ? 
Perhaps  religion  would  have  cloth'd  the  song, 
And  truth  and  bombast  roll'd  the  strains  along ! 
Thus  when  th'  Old  Dragon  op'd  his  mighty  mouth 
Out  burst  a  flood  of  overwhelming  froth, 
Down  the  soft  tide  three  unclean  spirits  float, 
Like  frogs  in  semblance,  and  like  frogs  in  note  ! 
Was  he  to  blame,  when,  struck  by  mighty  death. 
He  wish'd,  by  puffing  his  expiring  breath, 
To  rase  the  pillars  of  a  vicious  stage, 
And  scatter  virtue  in  his  holy  rage  ? 
Thus,  Samson,  when  Dalilah  cut  his  hair, 
Mutter'd  and  clank'd  his  fetters  in  despair, 
When  Gaza's  nobles  fill'd  the  spacious  court, 
And  laugh'd  to  see  the  blinded  monster's  sport ; 
When  lo !  the  two-legg'd  mammoth  rais'd  his  back, 
And  down  they  tumbled  with  prodigious  crack  ! 

The  passage  here  echoed,  in  part,  stands  in 
prose  as  follows : 

"  You  need  not  wonder  that  the  singular  oc- 
"  currence  of  the  preceding  evening  at  Faneuil- 
"  hall  rushed  into  my  mind.  Shall  Europe  hear, 
"  Shall  our  brethren  be  told,  that  Samuel  Adams 
"  rose  to  speak  in  the  midst  of  his  fellow-citi- 
"  zens,  and  ivas  silenced ! 

"  That,  while  others,  who  were  born  but  in 
"  season  to  enjoy  the  blessings,  which  he  earn- 
"  ed,  were  applauded,  Samuel  Adams  could  not 
"  be  heard. 

"  Richly  has  he  earnt  the  right  to  speak,  and 
"  to  be  heard!" 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

In  1793,  a  part  of  the  speech  of  the  gover- 
nor of  Massachusetts,  was  thus  returned  by  the 
Hartford  echoes  : 

LONG  since,  while  Britain,  with  maternal  hand, 
Cheer'd  the  lov'd  offspring  of  Columbia's  land  ; 
Ere  proud  oppression  bade  that  offspring  brave 
Assert  their  rights,  and  scorn  the  name  of  slave; 
Ere  o'er  the  world  had  flown  my  mob-rais'd  fame, 
And  George  and  Britain  trembled  at  my  name  ; 
This  state,  (then  province,)  pass'd,  with  wise  intent, 
An  act,  stage-filays,  and  such  things  to  prevent: 
You'll  find  it  sirs,  among  the  laws  sky  blue, 
Made  near  that  time  on  brooms  when  witches  flew, 
That  blessed  time,  when  law  kept  wide  awake, 
Proscribed  the  faithless,  and  made  quakers  quake ; 
And  thus,  in  terms  sublime  /state  the  fact, 
Runs  the  preamble  of  this  firecious  act. 

Both  for  preventing,  and  avoiding,  all 
Those  various  evils  which  would  sure  befall 
Our  sober  people,  and  their  sober  ways, 
From  interludes,  and  vile  theatric  plays  ; 
To  wit,  all  fiddling,  fighting,  gaming,  raking, 
Swearing  profane,  high  broils,  and  sabbath  breaking-. 

This  act,  so  full  of  wisdom,  and  so  good, 
Has  now  become  a  law  well  understood ; 
Since  it  has  often  been  confirm'd,  you  see, 
By  many  a  legislature  great  as  we. 
Yet,  notwithstanding  this,  some  chaps  uncivil, 
Grand  emissaries  of  our  foe  the  devil, 
Aliens  and  foreigners,  and  actors  funny, 
Who  less  esteem  our  morals  than  our  money  ; 
Even  in  our  holy  capital,  of  late, 
Have  dared  insult  the  majesty  of  state. 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  fcc. 

And  to  exhibit  publicly  propose, 
Stage-plays,  and  interludes,  and  heathen  shows  ; 
Which,  in  the  garb  of  moral  lectures  drest, 
Of  our  good,  sober  manners  make  a  jest ! 
Yet,  so  obnoxious  to  the  people's  notions, 
So  strange,  so  foreign  to  their  constitutions, 
That  well  7  am  convinc'd  they  never  go, 
From  motives  of  amusement,  to  the  show  ; 
But,  like  good,  honest  folks,  with  mere  intent, 
To  keep  these  actors  under  some  restraint. 

In  1800,  however,  the  general  assembly,  un- 
mindful of  the  voice,  either  of  the  nymph  or 
of  her  bards,  very  sternly  spoiled  their  singing  ; 
for  it  passed  an  act  to  prevent  theatrical  shows 
and  exhibitions,  of  which  the  following  are  the 
words  of  the  preamble :  "  Whereas  theatrical 
"  entertainments  tend  to  the  depravation  of  man- 
"  ners,  and  impoverishing  of  the  people." 

In  the  interim,  during  the  prevalence  of  the 
yellow  fever  at  New  York,  certain  players  had 
scandalized  the  good  people  of  Hartford  with 
their  presence,  their  play-bills,  and  their  plays ; 
but  whether  not  in  the  garb  of  moral  lectures^ 
I  have  not  particularly  learned. — The  reader  has 
probably  here  something  approaching  to  a  com- 
plete history  of  the  stage  in  Connecticut. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Connecticut — General  Assembly — Courts  of 
Justice. 

THE  general  assembly,  of  which  the  vernal 
labours  were  commenced  on  the  election-day, 
was  still  in  session  at  my  return  to  Hartford. 
The  members,  and  all  who  were  in  attendance, 
had  their  lodgings  at  the  several  inns  or  taverns 
in  the  city,  at  one  of  which  I  was  myself  also, 
for  a  few  days,  an  inmate. 

The  system  of  the  table  d'hote,  or  public 
table,  is  every  where  established  in  the  United 
States ;  and  in  this  manner  we  lived  at  Hartford. 
The  assembly  adjourned  at  one  o'clock  to  din- 
ner, and  reassembled  at  the  hour  of  three. 
Cider  is  the  beverage  at  table,  and  no  wine  is 
drank.  A  member  who  should  neglect  his  daily 
attendance,  either  before  or  after  dinner,  would 
be  thought  not  to  earn  what  are  called  his  wages. 
These  wages  amount  to  two  dollars  per  diem, 
during  the  sessions ;  and  each  member  has  a  < 
further  allowance  of  six  cents  per  mile,  for  tra- 
velling expenses.  The  assistants,  or  members 

VOL.    I. 


170         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

of  the  upper  house  receive  allowances  for  their 
attendance. 

When  the  assembly  adjourns  for  the  evening, 
the  members  and  others  again  seat  themselves 
at  a  long  table,  covered  with  a  table-cloth,  and 
furnished  with  plates,  knives  and  forks,  steaks, 
fish,  pickles,  sweet-cake,  toast  and  butter,  tea, 
cider  and  coffee,  of  all  of  which  articles  every 
one  partakes,  and  thus  makes  his  supper.  At  an 
early  hour,  they  retire  to  bed,  in  rooms  each  of 
which  contain  four,  five,  or  a  greater  number  of 
beds.  Next  morning,  the  breakfast-table  is  spread 
at  eight  o'clock.  The  breakfast  resembles,  in  all 
particulars,  the  supper ;  excepting  that  it  is  cus 
tomary,  at  this  meal,  to  drink  coffee,  and  not  tea. 
At  nine,  a  bell  summons  the  assembly-men  to 
their  seats ;  and  the  lawyers,  employed  upon 
petitions  and  other  affairs,  to  the  bars  of  the  two 
houses. 

In  this  manner,  certainly  to  be  remarked  for 
its  simplicity,  its  frugality,  its  freedom  from 
costlier  luxury,  and  from  every  species  of  dissi- 
pation, live  the  legislators  of  Connecticut,  during 
the  period  of  their  meeting  in  the  metropolis  of 
the  republic.  Among  the  persons  with  whom, 
under  these  circumstances,  I  had  a  transitory 
acquaintance,  were  several  of  those  who  were 
the  most  distinguished  in  Connecticut  ;  and 
Connecticut  is  by  no  means  behind-hand  in  the 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

list  of  states,  in  the  possession  of  men  of  superior 
qualifications. 

In  the  house  of  representatives,  which  I  visited 
more  than  once,  I  saw  always  the  strictest  deco- 
rum and  propriety ;  and  in  the  upper  house, 
when  I  was  present  at  the  hearing  of  a  petition, 
the  appearance  and  proceedings  were  entirely 
respectable. 

The  doors  of  the  upper  house  are  open  only 
on  such  occasions  as  this  which  I  have  men- 
tioned. Its  legislative  proceedings  have  always 
the  strictest  secrecy.  No  minutes  are  kept ;  no 
arguments  nor  no  votes  are  made  public.  The 
council  concurs,  or  does  not  concur  with  the 
house  of  deputies  ;  this  is  all  that  is  known. 
Mutual  conferences  frequently  take  place  ;  but 
this  is  the  only  exception  to  the  system ;  a  sys- 
tem, which,  as  I  believe,  contributes,  not  less 
than  other  usages  which  have  been  mentioned, 
to  the  stability  of  this  government,  or  more 
properly  of  the  men  and  the  principles  govern- 
ing this  government :  for  the  stability  of  a  go- 
vernment is  one  thing,  and  the  stability  of  :m 
administration  is  another. 

The  effect  of  preserving  an  entire  secrecy  as 
to  the  proceedings  of  the  fourteen  men  (the 
governor,  lieutenant-governor,  and  assistants) 
in  whom  is  the  veto  in  all  matters  of  govern- 
ment and  legislation,  cannot  but  be  considerable. 


172         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

Divide  et  impera  ;  but,  here,  no  division  can  be 
accomplished.  The  council  is  impenetrable  ; 
it  is  one  ;  it  has  no  weak  part,  by  which 
it  may  be  entered  and  subdued.  All  its  acts 
are  the  acts  of  the  party ;  the  individual  never 
appears.  We  know  nothing  of  the  display  of 
his  talents  ;  nothing  of  his  peculiar  shade  of  sen- 
timent. Nothing  is  shown  to  us  but  unanimity  ; 
and  whence  that  unanimity  arises  w^e  have  no 
means  of  discovery.  It  may  be  that  all  the 
members  are  of  one  mind  ;  it  may  be  that  they 
obey  one  direction ;  it  may  be  that  there  is  a 
minority  always  dissatisfied  ;  dissatisfied  with 
the  particular  acts  of  its  friends,  but  overawed 
by  the  interests  of  its  party.  But,  it  is  by  as- 
saults upon  particular  acts  and  particular  me?i, 
upon  particular  opinions  and  particular  phrases, 
that  all  parties  are  in  the  end  stripped  of  their 
popularity  ;  for  the  great  principles  which  dis- 
tinguish them,  the  entire  scope  of  their  actions, 
are  almost  always  out  of  the  view  of  the  multitude. 
One  man  is  called  a  fool,  and  another  a  knave  ; 
an  act  is  called  imbecile,  or  it  is  called  wicked, 
or  it  turns  out  unfortunately  ;  it  is  these  that  ruin 
parties ;  and  there  is  still  another  means,  and 
that  is,  individual  superiority,  individual  ambi- 
tion, individual  worth  or  wisdom,  vice  or  folly. 
When  individuals  are  suffered  to  display  them- 
selves at  their  employment,  some  discover  skill^ 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

and  others  deficiency ;  some  feebleness,  and 
some  strength  :  each  desires,  too,  to  enjoy  his 
own  fame  and  his  own  reward  :  he  is  anxious, 
less  for  his  party,  and  more  for  himself.  Now, 
these  are  facts,  concerning  the  operation  of 
which  upon  the  commonwealth,  politicians  will 
entertain  very  different  views,  every  one  accord- 
ing to  his  system.  One  result,  however,  is  cer- 
tain, that  where  the  individual  is  out  of  the 
question,  the  party  is  therefore  the  more  safe. 
There  can  be  no  divisions  among  the  ruling 
party  in  Connecticut  ;  because  the  leaders  act 
as  one  head  ;  divulge  no  minor  disagreements 
that  may  happen  among  themselves ;  and  lose 
all  subordinate  differences  of  opinion,  in  the  one 
point  upon  which  they  cannot  but  constantly 
agree  ; — the  preservation  of  the  part}'. 

Besides  the  duty  of  the  day,  in  attending  the 
two  sittings  of  the  assembly,  there  is  occasionally 
a  meeting  of  a  political  nature,  which  is  to  be 
attended  also.  The  meeting  to  which  I  allude  is 
in  use  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  is 
denominated  a  caucus — but  why  so  denominated, 
I  have  found  many  to  inquire,  but  none  to  teach. 
Sometimes,  indeed,  a  desperate  attempt  is  made 
at  etymology,  or  perhaps  only  at  wit,  and  caucus 
is  for  a  moment  derived  from  Cacus,  the  Aven- 
tinian  robber.  As  far,  however,  as  I  am  ac- 
cmainted,  no  etymology  at  all  is  ever  seriously 


174 


TRAVBLS  THROUGH  PAKT 


offered.     There  is  less  difficulty  as  to  its  appli- 
cation. 

A  caucus  is  a  political,  and  what  is  in  practice 
the  same  thing,  a  party- meeting ;  but  is  not  a 
popular  meeting.  It  is  an  informal,  and  as  it  were 
unofficial  meeting  of  the  representatives  in  a 
legislature,  in  which,  according  to  some  old 
language,  of  which  I  shall  presently  avail  myself 
at  length,  they  "  advise  and  consult  of  all  such 
"  things  as  may  concern  the  good  of  the  public," 
and  of  what,  in  their  own  legislative  capacity,  it 
may  be  proper  to  do. 

As  the  caucus  is  a  meeting  of  the  represents 
lives  only,  so  it  is  a  meeting  of  all  the  repre- 
sentatives ;  or  at  least,  among  one  body  of  repre- 
sentatives, there  can  properly  be  but  one  caucus  : 
we  should  be  mistaken,  however,  if  we  supposed 
that  it  is  therefore  a  general  meeting,  and  not, 
as  has  been  said,  a  party-meeting. 

A  caucus  is  a  meeting  of  only  the  majority  of 
the  legislature,  for  the  minority  does  not  give  it 
attendance  ; — it  has  meetings  of  its  own. 

The  minority  can  by  no  means  attend  the 
caucus,  because,  whatever  may  be  the  theory  of 
this  meeting,  its  practical  intention  is  simply 
and  singly  that  of  devising  means  for  supporting 
the  party  of  which  it  is  composed,  and  of  mana- 
ging its  own  affairs.  It  is  in  caucuses  that  it  is 
decided,  for  whom  the  people  shall  be  instructed 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATF.S.  175 

to  vote,  and  by  what  course  of  politics  the  party 
may  be  secured.  In  them,  it  is  ascertained, 
what  the  majority  of  the  party  will  and  will  not 
do,  whom  it  will  and  will  not  support,  and  what 
sacrifices  must  be  made,  to  this  man  and  the 
other,  in  order  to  keep  both  upon  friendly  terms. 
This  done,  the  party,  as  a  party,  acts  in  concert ; 
and,  on  meeting  its  opponents  in  public,  is  pre- 
pared, through  a  precise  knowledge  of  its  own 
strength,  to  yield  to  them,  or  to  crush  them,  as 
occasion  may  render  prudent  or  needful. 

I  have  observed  that,  the  caucus  is  in  general 
use  in  the  United  States.  It  appears  that  it  is 
no  secret,  nor  no  popular  nor  obscure,  assembling 
of  persons,  but  a  meeting  of  those,  to  whom,  in 
the  several  legislatures,  the  legislation  is  entrust- 
ed. In  the  mean  time,  I  am  not  aware  that  it  is 
provided  for  or  acknowledged,  any  more  by  the 
existing  constitution  of  any  of  the  states,  than 
by  that  of  the  United  States.  The  name  is  in 
general  use;  but  neither  the  name,  nor  the 
thing,  appears  to  be  known  to  any  statute,  or 
public  instrument.  I  have  not  even  found  that 
it  is  any  where  represented  as  an  ancient,  and 
anciently  constitutional  institution.  Yet  such  it 
is,  at  least  with  respect  to  Connecticut;  for,  in  the 
ninth  article  of  the  Constitution  of  1639,  the 
caucus  will  be  found  distinctly  described  and 
provided  for,  though  without  a  name,  and  espe- 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

cially  without  that  felicitous  name  by  which 
it  is  now  distinguished.*  It  is  there  "  ordered, 
"  sentenced,  and  decreed,  that  the  deputies  shall 
"  have  power  and  liberty  to  appoint  a  time  and 
"  place  of  meeting  together,  before  any  general 
"  court  or  assembly,  to  consult  and  advise  of  all 
"  such  things,  as  may  concern  the  good  of  the 
"  public." 

2.  The  caucus  is  expressly  entrusted  with  the 
examination  of  the  elections  of  the  deputies.  It 
is  to  report  upon  undue  returns  to  the  assembly. 

3.  The  caucus  may  impose  fines,  for  disorder- 
ly behaviour  during  its  sittings,  or  for  not  coming- 
in  due  time  and  place  according  to  appointment. 

Whether  or  not  the  above  be  the  universal  and 
exclusive  constitution  of  the  more  ancient  caucus, 
I  cannot  pretend  to  say ;  but  the  modern  cau- 
cuses differ  from  it  in  many  essential  particulars. 

The  caucus  (so  to  call  it)  as  we  see  it  here,  is, 
to  the  court  of  legislature  or  parliament,  precise- 
ly what  a  grand  jury  is  to  a  court  of  justice. 
The  caucus  of  the  present  day  devotes  itself  to 
other  business,  and  in  no  cases  confines  its  meet- 
ings to  a  period  antecedent  to  the  meeting  of  the 
court  or  legislature.! 

*  See  fiassim,  chap.  vii. 

t  The  following  is  a  circular  letter,  for  calling  a  cau- 
cus (here  styled  a  convention)  at  Washington.     Accord- 
ing t$  the  newspapers,  a  ludicrous  parody,  signed  by 
1 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

I  attended  a  caucus,  which  was  held  one 
evening  in  the  chamber  of  the  council  or  upper 
house  of  assembly ;  but  nothing  was  done,  and 
almost  nothing  was  said. 

Mr.  Masters,  a  member  for  New  York,  was  "  stuck 
"  upon  the  door  of  the  house,  and  behind  the  speaker's 
"  chair.'' 

"  Sir, 

"  In  pursuance  of  the  powers  vested  in  me  as  pre- 
"  sidcnt  of  the  late  conventign  of  republican  members 
"  of  both  houses  of  congress,  I  deem  it  expedient,  for 
"  the  purpose  of  nominating  suitable  and  proper  charac- 
"  ters  for  president  and  vice-president  of  the  United 
u  States  at  the  next  presidential  election,  to  call  a  con- 
"  vention  of  said  republican  members,  to  meet  at  the 
"  senate-chamber,  on  Saturday  the  23d  inst.  at  six  o'clock 
"  P.  M.  at  which  time  and  place,  your  personal  attend  - 
"  ance  is  requested,  to  aid  the  meeting  with  your  in- 
"  fluence,  information  and  talents. 

"  S.  R.  BRADLEY. 
"  Dated  at   Washington, 
"  19th  January,  1808." 

The  above  signature  is  that  of  General  Bradley,  a 
member  of  the  senate  of  the  United  States.  The  object 
of  the  convention  or  caucus,  was  to  secure  the  election 
of  Mr.  Madison.  When  it  was  complained,  that  a  con- 
vention of  members  of  both  houses  of  congress  could 
not  constitutionally  interfere  with  the  election  of  a  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  it  was  answered  that  some 
elections  had  been  managed  in  the  same  manner. 
VOL.  I. 


178 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


From  the  government  and  the  legislature, 
whence  the  laws  proceed,  I  turn  to  the  courts  of 
justice,  where  they  are  administered.  The 
courts,  for  the  county  of  Hartford,  are  held  in 
the  lower  apartments  of  the  state-house. 

There  are  three  descriptions  of  courts  of 
justice  held  in  Connecticut,  under  the  authority 
of  the  state,  and  two  under  the  authority  of  the 
United  States  ;  of  which  the  territory  of  this  re- 
public composes  a  district.  The  courts  of  the 
United  States  are  a  district-court,  with  a  resi- 
dent judge,  and  a  circuit-court,  held  by  the 
judges  of  the  federate  republic.  The  courts  of 
the  state  are  a  superior -court,  which  performs 
the  circuit  of  the  counties ;  county -courts, 
which  belong  to  the  counties  respectively,  and 
which  are  otherwise  called  courts  of  common 
pleas;  and  courts  of  probate,  for  registering 
probate  of  wills  and  letters  of  administration, 
and  which  are  fixed  in  probate- districts. 

A  strong  disposition  prevails,  in  every  one  of 
the  states,  to  render  the  judges  of  the  United 
States  removable  at  the  pleasure  of  the  prevail- 
ing party  ;  for  No  man,  say  the  lovers  of  liberty 
in  this  part  of  the  world,  no  man  ought  to  hold  the 
office  of  a  judge,  not  being  at;  the  same  time  a 
friend  to  the  measures  of  the  administration.  This 
maxim,  though  avowed 'in  so  many  words,  lias 
not  yet  obtained  cred.it  enough  to  overthrow  a 


OF  THE  LM1KU  STATES. 

contrary  provision,  inserted  in  the  constitution 
of  the  United  States  ;  but  it  is  religiously  re- 
ceived, as  we  have  seen,  in  the  constitution 
of  Connecticut.  Here,  the  ruling  party  in  the 
assembly  may  u  call  any  court  or  magistrate, 
"  or  any  other  officer  or  person  whatever,  for 
"  any  misdemeanour  [which  it  may  please  to 
"  impute]  or  male-administration,  to  account ; 
"  and  for  [what  it  may  call]  just  cause,  may 
"  fine,  displace  or  remove  them,  or  deal  other- 
"  wise,  as  the  nature  of  the  case  shall  [to  them 
"  seem  to]  require."  The  judges  of  the  courts 
held  under  the  assembly,  are  therefore  all  of  the 
ruling  party.  Meanwhile,  the  district-judge, 
who  is  appointed  by  the  government  of  the 
United  States,  is  of  the  party  which  predomi- 
nates in  the  United  States.* 

*  In  what  manner  this  officer  is  consequently  treated 
by  the  federalists,  may  be  seen  from  the  following  ad- 
vertisement, published  in  the  Connecticut  newspapers : 
"  Preparing  for  the  press,  and  will  shortly  be  published', 
"  authentic  memoirs  of  the  life  and  character  of  the  Ho- 
u  nourable  PIERPOINT  EDWARDS,  judge  of  the  district- 
"  court  for  the  district  of  Connecticut.  A  faithful  history 
"  and  true  character  of  this  singular  man  is  intended.  We 
"  all  know  who  appointed  him  to  the  office  of  judge  over 
"  the  state  of  Connecticut.  His  claims  to  that  office,  it  is 
u  intended,  shall  also  be  known  and  remembered.  A  full 
•'  and  authentic  account  of  his  proceedings  since  he  be- 
"  came  a  judge,  to  this  date,  is  already  prepared :  and  will 
u  show  the  world  many  curiosities  in  a  court  cf  justice.' 


180         TRAVELS  THROUGH  TART 

The  superior  court,  which  is  comprized  of  a 
bench  of  five  judges,  is  a  court  of  law,  equity, 
and  errors  or  appeals,  and  is  held  in  each  county 
twice  in  each  year. 

Each  superior  or  state  court  is  held  in  each 
county  twice  in  each  year,  and  there  is  a  county- 
court,  also  held  twice  in  each  year. 

The  county-court  is  also  a  court  both  of  law 
and  equity,  and  is  also  held  twice  in  each  year. 
As  a  court  of  law,  it  has  power  to  hear  and  de- 
termine all  civil  causes,  real,  personal  or  mixed, 
and  also  all  criminal  matters,  "  not  extending  to 
"  life,  limb,  banishment,  adultery  or  divorce," 
and  where  the  punishment  does  not  "  extend  to 
"  confinement  in  Newgate,"  excepting  only  in 
the  crime  of  horse  stealing.  In  civil  cases,  where 
the  matter  in  demand  does  not  exceed  the  value 
of  seventy  dollars,  and  where  the  action  is  on 
bond  or  note,  given  for  the  payment  of  money, 
or  bills  of  credit  only,  vouched  by  the  witnesses, 
the  hearing  and  extenuation  of  the  county-court 
is  final ;  but  causes  may  be  removed  into  the 
superior  court,  by  writ  of  error  or  other  cus- 
tomary forms  of  law.  As  a  court  of  equity,  it 
has  jurisdiction  in  all  suits  wherein  the  matter 
or  thing  in  demand  does  not  exceed  the  sum  of 
three  hundred  and  thirty  five  dollars,  and  where 
the  suit  is  not  for  relief  against  any  judgment 
given,  or  cause  depending,  in  the  superior  court ; 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


181 


and,  within  the  circuit  of  its  own  jurisdiction,  it 
may  proceed  to  final  judgment  and  decree,  and 
may  enforce  the  same. 

These  courts  are  "  kept  by  a  judge,  with  two 
"  or  more  justices  of  the  quorum,  to  be  appoint- 
"  ed  and  commissioned  for  that  purpose;  any 
"  three  of  whom  have  power  to  hold  them;" 
and  with  the  concurrence  of  the  grand  jurors 
in  attendance,  may  impose  and  cause  to  be 
collected  a  town  or  county-rate,  taxing  or  rating 
each  town  according  to  the  lists  of  estate,  for 
paying  expenses  of  the  count}-.*  They  also  ap- 
point the  county -treasurer. 

In  case  of  absence,  or  of  just  exceptions 
"  against  the  judge,  or  any  of  the  justices  of  the 
"  quorum,"  so  that  there  shall  not  be  a  suffi- 
cient number  for  the  trial  of  the  cause,  the 
quorum  may  be  completed  out  of  the  justices 
of  thepeace  for  the  county  at  large. 

In  certain  cases  appeals  from  decisions  of 
justices  of  the  peace,  may  be  carried  to  the 
county,  courts. 

*  Yet,  in  the  instance  of  gaols,  .the  power  of  taxing  the 
inhabitants  for  building,  repairs,  &c.  is  given  to  the  "  as- 
"  sistants  and  justices  of  the  peace  in  the  several  coun- 
"  ties."  Stat.  Conn.  Ixxi.  i.  sec.  3. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Connecticut — Trial  by  Jury. 

THE  trial  by  jury  is  fully  established  iu 
Connecticut ;  but  this  ancient  and  English 
constitution  has  been  made  to  undergo  several 
modifications. 

1.  Grand- jurors   and  petit- jurors   are  yearly 
officers,  appertaining  to  the  towns.     The  num- 
ber of  petit-jurors,  to  be  chosen  by  the  towns,  is 
regulated  for  each  town  by  statute.     Some  of 
the  towns  appear  to  have  the  choice  of  none. 
Some  choose  twenty,  and  some  only  four.    The 
numbers  are  probably  regulated  in  some  degree 
by  the  population. 

2.  The  grand-jurors  are  chosen  in  town  meet- 
ing.   The  petit -jurors  are  chosen  by  the  justices 
of  the  peace,  selectmen,  constables,  grand -ju- 
rors conjointly.     The  names  of  the  persons   so 
chosen,  are  the  names  from  which  the  constables, 
on  receiving,  from  the  clerk  of  any  of  the  courts, 
a  warrant  to  summon  a  certain  number  of  jury- 
men, are  to  draw  the  names  of  those  that  are  to 
serve. 

For  this  purpose,  the  names  are  to  be  kept, 
on  separate  written  papers,  in  "a  box  with  a 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  Sec. 

u  lock  to  it,  to  be  provided  at  the  cost  of  the 
"  town."  The  constable  is  not  to  see  the  names 
before  he  draws  them.  Having  drawn,  he  is  to 
issue  his  summonses  accordingly.  With  respect 
to  the  courts  of  the  United  States,  the  marshal 
stands  in  the  place  of  the  constable. 

3.  When,  and  when  only,  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  petit-jurors,  thus  constituted  and  sum- 
moned, do  not  appear,  or  when,  by  reason  of 
challenges  or  by  other  causes,  the  number  is 
rendered  insufficient,  then  the  panel  may  be  filled 
up  out  "  of  any  good  and  lawful  freeholders  of 
"  the  county,  whose  names  shall  be  returned  by 
"  the  sheriff." 

4.  Each  juror  is  allowed  seventy-five  cents 
for  the  trial  of  each  issue,  civil  or  criminal.* 

5.  Pending  the  proceedings  on  any  trial,  and 
before   the  charge  is  given  by  the  court,    no 
care  is  taken  to  prevent  access  to  the  jurymen. 
The  fees  of  counsel  being  low,  three  are  very 
eommonly   employed   on   each  side    in    every 
cause  ;  and  every  counsel  is  expected  to  earn  his 
money,  by  making  a  long  speech.     Hence,  the 
most  trifling  causes  often  occupy  the  courts  for 
two  and  even  three  days.     The  courts  adjourn 
twice  in  each  day ;  and,  at  each  adjournment, 
the    jurymen    are  restored    to    perfect  liberty. 

• 
*  See  Statutes  of  Connecticut. 


184         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

They  discuss  in  public  houses  the  merits  of  the 
cause  in  hand,  and  hold  arguments  with  plaintiffs 
and  defendants,  with  prosecutors  and  prosecu- 
ted, and  with  the  friends  and  partisans  of  each. 
This  custom  has  given  rise  (if  I  may  rely  on 
the  personal  information  of  some  of  the  most 
respectable  lawyers)  to  a  new  employment 
in  Connecticut)  for  the  talents  of  practitioners. 
Sleepy  attornies  were  never  of  great  advantage 
to  their  clients  ;  but  it  has  been  found  that  a 
sleeping  attorney  may  be  rendered  very  profit- 
able. 

A  sleeping  attorney  is  secretly  retained,  either 
for  a  plaintiff  or  defendant.  His  business  is, 
to  secure  a  lodging  in  one  of  the  many- bed- 
rooms, which,  at  the'  public  inns,  happen  to  be 
chiefly  occupied  by  a  large  part  of  the  jury 
sworn  to  try  the  cause ;  and  into  which  he  is 
freely  admitted,  because,  though  an  attorney,  he 
is  supposed  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  that 
particular  suit.  As  the  honest  men,  after  the 
candle  is  put  out,  renew  the  debate  in 
which,  from  the  time  of  their  leaving  court, 
they  have  been  engaged,  upon  the  merits  of  the 
question  before  them,  they  not  unfrequently  dif- 
fer in  opinion,  from  the  want  of  a  little  legal 
knowledge.  The  sleeping  attorney  suffers 
himself  to  be  kept  awake  by  the  argument ;  and 
if,  being  known  for  an  attorney,  his  opinion  is 
2 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

not  expressly  asked,  at  least  from  time  to  time- 
he  modestly  bestows  it ;  and,  as  he  commands  a 
greater  flow,  and  greater  clearness  of  expres- 
sion, than  most  of  the  others  who  discuss  it,  it 
often  happens,  that  that  tranquillity  of  mind,  and 
stillness  of  sound,  which  are  most  favourable 
to  sleep,  are  found  to  be  the  quickest  gained  by 
adopting  the  sleeping  attorney's  opinion ;  an 
opinion  which  appears  to  be  delivered  by 
one  wholly  unconcerned.  At  all  events,  he 
is  able  to  impress  upon  his  hearers  some  lead- 
ing view  or  maxim,  to  be  made  good  use  of  the 
next  day ;  or,  at  the  very  worst,  he  carries  to  his 
colleagues  the  adverse  points  upon  which  the 
jury  chiefly  rest,  and  against  which  they  may 
consequently  direct  the  -whole  force  of  their 
attack. 


VOL.  i.  A  a 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Connecticut — Taxation. 

EVERY  inhabitant — (for  there  is  here  no 
question  as  to  lawful  and  unlawful  freemen  and 
non-freemen) — every  inhabitant  (unless  by  law 
in  any  case  exempted)  pays  taxes,  both  civil 
and  ecclesiastical,  "  \vhereof  he  does  or  may  re- 
"  ceive  benefit,"  and  may  be  compelled  there- 
to, if  need  be,  by  civil  process  and  distress.* 

The  taxes  are  either  state-taxes,  county -taxes, 
towiirtaxes  or  society -taxes.  The  society-taxes 
are  either  for  the  support  of  schools,  or  for 
that  of  public  worship ;  and  the  last  are  called 
ministerial  taxes. 

All  these  taxes,  and  which  taxes  are  of  local 
application,  are  direct.  The  only  indirect  taxes 
are  those  levied  by  the  United  States,  in  the  form 
of  customs  and  duties  on  imports  and  tonnage. 

If  a  collector  of  the  state-tax  becomes  a  de- 
faulter, the  state  may  recover  the  amount  in  de- 

*  Statutes,  cxxxv.  i.  "  All  the  freeholders"  pay  taxe*. 
American  Universal  Geography. 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  kc.       jgy 

fault,  by  distress  against  the  selectmen  of  the 
town  to  which  the  defaulter  belongs  ;  and  if  the 
demand  be  still  unsatisfied,  it  has  the  same 
remedy  against  the  goods  and  chattels  of  the  in- 
habitants of  the  town.  The  collector,  it  will  be 
remembered,  is  a  town  officer,  and  receives  his 
appointment  from  the  town  ;  and  the  town,  and 
not  the  individual,  is  responsible  to  the  state. 

All  the  direct  or  local  taxes  are  assessed  by 
one  rule ;  that  is,  according  to  the  general  list 
of  polls  and  ratable  property. 

The  law  requires  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
several  towns,  .that  on  or  before  the  tenth  day  of 
September,  in  each  year,  they  render  annually 
to  the  listers  an  account  or  list  of  all  the  listable 
polls,  and  of  all  listable  estate,  to  them  severally 
belonging,  on  the  twentieth  day  of  August,  then 
last  past ;  to  the  items  of  which  the  listers  are  to 
add  the  valuation,  either  according  to  a  system 
of  valuation,  by  law  in  certain  cases  provided, 
or  according  to  their  judgment,  where  no  such 
provision  is  made. 

The  listers  or  assessors  are  to  retain  the  lists 
in  their  possession  till  the  last  day  of  Decem- 
ber annually  ;  and  to  add  a  two-fold  amount  for 
all  the  ratable  property,  which,  in  the  interim, 
they  may  discover  to  have  been  omitted  by  the 
individual  rendering  the  list,  giving  him 
notice  of  this  proceeding ;  and  if  any  doubt 


arises  as  to  the  ownership  of  property,  the  opi- 
nion of  the  listers  is  to  prevail,  unless  the  nega- 
tive be  proved.  The  lister  receives  half  the 
amount  added.*  The  ordinary  compensation 
of  the  listers  is  twenty-five  cents  (or  a  quarter 
of  a  dollar)  for  each  thousand  dollars  on  their 
list. 

Those  who,  being  residents,  render  no  lists  at 
all,  are  charged  four-fold  for  their  whole  reported 
property;  and  for  those,  who,  being  non-resi- 
dents, are  guilty  of  any  such  neglect,  the  listers  are 
to  make  lists  themselves.! 

Sometime  in  the  month  of  January,  the  listers 
deliver  a  town-list,  or  list  of  the  polls  and  rata- 
ble property  of  the  town,  compiled  from  the  lists 
of  the  inhabitants,  and  containing  every  individual 
specification,  to  the  town-clerk. 

On  the  first  day  of  April,  the  town-lists  are 
transmitted  to  the  comptroller  of  the  public  ac- 
counts, together  with  the  sum  total  of  the  society- 
taxes.  A  town,  neglecting  to  send  a  list,  is  to 
be  " doomed"  that  is  assessed  "  at  the  discre- 
"  tion  of  the  general  assembly." 

*  Statutes,  ci.  i. 

t  Relief  is  to  be  obtained  only  from  a  bench  of  two  or- 
more  of  the  justices  of  the  peace,  and  three  of  the  se- 
lectmen of  the  town;  or  from  a  majority  of  the  justices 
and  selectmen.  This  authority  may  make  abatements. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  jgg 

This  system  was  made  part  of  the  code  in 
1650,  after  having  been  previously  established  in 
Massachusetts.  It  has  undergone  almost  yearly 
revisions. 

The  scheme  of  valuation,  established  by  law, 
affixes  the  same  value  to  all  things  of  the  same  de- 
nomination, and  which  value  is  much  beneath  that 
which  they  would  command  in  the  market.  Thus, 
every  ox  or  bull  is  valued  at  ten  dollars ;  every 
cow  at  seven;  every  acre  of  ploughland  at  a  dol- 
lar and  sixty-seven  cents ;  and  every  hundred  dol- 
lars in  bank  stock,  at  no  more  than  three  dollars. 

The  persons,  anciently  exempted  from  the 
poll-tax,  were  the  magistrates  and  elders  of 
churches.  In  1672,  they  were  made  to  include 
the  assistants,  commissioners^  (deputies  or  repre- 
sentatives,) ministers  of  the  gospel  and  school- 
masters. In  1702,  the  disabled,  sick  and  lame 
were  exempted.  In  1737,  justices  of  the  peace 
were  deprived  of  the  exemption  ;  and  the  gover- 
nor, the  deputy-governor,  rector,  tutors  and 
students  of  Yale  College  (the  latter  till  the  time  of 
taking  heir  second  degree)  were  exempted.  In 
1793,  the  sick  and  lame  ceased  to  be  exempted, 
but  received  other  provision;  and  in  1794,  the 
governor,  deputy- governor  and  assistants  were 
made  taxable.*  At  present,  it  is  provided,  that 

*  Statutes  of  Connecticut,  page  166. 


190 

"  all  ministers  of  the  gospel  that  now  are  or 
"  hereafter  shall  be  settled  in  this  state,  during 
"  their  continuance  in  the  ministry,  shall  have 
"  all  their  estates,  lying  in  the  same  society  or 
"  town  wherein  they  dwell,  and  all  polls  belong- 
"  ing  to  their  several  families,  exempted  from 
"  being  put  into  the  list.  And  also,  the  estate 
"  of  the  president  of  Yale  College,  for  the  time 
"  being,  shall  be  under  the  same  regulations  as 
"  the  estates  of  ministers  of  the  gospel ;  as  also 
"  shall  all  lands  and  buildings  in  this  state  se- 
"  questered  to  and  improved  for  schools  or  other 
"  public  or  pious  uses;"  and"  That  the  polls 
"  of  the  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates 
"  of  the  militia  of  this  state,  whether  of  the  in- 
"  fantry,  cavalry,  artillery,  guards  or  independ- 
"  ent  companies,  shall  be  exempted  from  the 
"  list  of  polls  and  ratable  estate,  during  the  time 
"  of  their  being  liable  by  law  to  do  duty  in  their 
"  respective  companies ;  provided,  that  each 
"  person,  claiming  the  benefit  of  this  act,  shall 
"  produce  a  certificate  from  the  commanding 
"  officer  of  the  company  to  which  he  respective- 
"  ly  belongs,  on  or  before  the  tenth  day  of  Sep- 
"  tember  in  each  year,  that  he  is  equipped  ac- 
"  cording  to  law,  and  dressed  in  uniform,  and 
"  hath  performed  military  duty  according  to 
"  law  during  the  year  preceding,  or  hath  been 
"  prevented  from  performing  the  same  by  sick- 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

"  ness,  bodily    infirmity   or    other    reasonable 
"  cause." 

Inhabitants,  employed  for  four  months  in  the 
year  on  board  a  vessel  which  is  the  property  of 
an  inhabitant,  are  also  exempted  from  the  poll- 
tax,  for  the  year  in  which  they  are  so  employed  j 
and  an   abatement  may  be    made  "  from  such 
"  list  of  the  polls  of  such  persons  as  are  disabled 
"  by  sickness,  lameness  or  other  infirmity,  pro- 
'  "  vided  that   such  abatement  shall   not  exceed 
"  one-tenth  part  of  such  polls.     And  the  trea- 
"  surer  shall  not   accept  or  allow  any  bills  of 
u  abatement,  save  only  where  any  persons  shall 
"  be  found  according  to  the  true  meaning  of 
"  this  act  to  have  been  really  overcharged  or 
"  wrong-charged,  or  unless  any  person  charged 
"  in  said  list,  is  deceased,  or  shall  have  abscond- 
"  ed  and  departed  out  of  this  state  before  the 
"  time  limited  for  the  payment  of  such  rate  to 
"  the    treasurer,    and  hath  not  left  any  estate 
"  whereon  the  same  may  be  levied." 

From  the  town- lists,  the  treasurer  compiles  a 
grand  list ;  and  upon  the  amount  of  the  grand- 
list,  the  state-tax  is  levied,  at  the  rate  of  so  much 
on  each  dollar.  The  county,  town  and  society 
taxes  are  levied  upon  the  town-lists,  or  parts  of 
the  grand  list. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Connecticut — Taxes  and  Public  Expenditure. 

THE  several  taxes,  taken  together,  are  not 
of  inconsiderable  amount ;  but  the  state  tax  is 
very  light,  the  greater  part  of  the  expenses  of 
government  being  levied  and  managed  by  the 
towns  and  societies.     The  state-tax  of  this  year 
is  only  seven  mills  on  the  dollar.     The  annual 
charges  of  the  state  are  of  the  average  amount 
of  forty -three  or  forty-four  thousand  dollars  : 
Salaries  of  the  governor,  lieutenant- 
governor  and  judges,  $  7,684 
Debentures  of  the  general  assembly,      16,000 
Debentures  of  the  supreme  court  of 

errors,  300 

Expenses  of  public  prosecutions,  3,000 

Expense  of  Newgate-prison,  3,000 

Charges  of  paupers  and  vagrants,  3,000 

8  32,984 

Contingent  expenses,  comprehend- 
ing all  other  charges  of  govern- 
ment ;  such  as  arrears  of  old  debts, 
grants  from  the  treasury,  &c.  on 
private  petitions,  10,500 

g  43,484 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  &c.       193 

The  amount  of  the  other  taxes  which  have 
been  mentioned  is  dependent,  in  each  particu- 
lar town,  county  and  society,  on  an  infinity 
of  peculiar  circumstances.  In  towns  newly 
settled,  or  still  settling,  roads  and  bridges  arc- 
serious  articles  of  expense  ;  and  these  are  com- 
monly in  all  cases  the  heaviest. 

The  denominations  of  money  in  the  United 
States  are  dollars,  cents  or  hundredth  parts  of 
dollars,  and  mills  or  thousandth  parts.  Dimes 
or  tenth  parts  are  mentioned  by  writers,  but 
never  enter  into  accounts.  The  mill  is*  only 
imaginary.  The  coins  are  dollars,  and  halves, 
and  other  parts  of  dollars  in  silver,  and  cents 
and  half  cents  in  copper.  In  those  parts  of  the 
United  States  to  which  the  present  pages  are 
confined,  the  dollar  is  estimated  at  six  shillings 
currency,  or  as  it  is  now  called  in  the  country, 
lawful  money.  For  this,  the  ancient  phrase  is, 
country  pay. 


VOL.  i.  Bb 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Connecticut — Statistical  and  Historical  Notes. 

I  SHALL  here  set  down  a  very  few  notes, 
which  it  has  fallen  in  my  way  to  collect,  relating 
to  the  history  of  the  population,  commerce, 
and  public  expenditure  of  Connecticut. 

In  the  year  1692,  the  number  of  ratable  per- 
sons'in  the  colony  was  3,109.* 

In  1756,  the  number  of  inhabitants  of  Con- 
^iccticutwas  130,611 ;  in  1774,  it  was  197,856; 
the  increase,  in  eighteen  years,  being  67,245. f 

In  1782,  the  number  was  209,150,  the  in- 
crease, in  eight  years,  being  11,294.| 

*  TrumbulFs  History  of  Connecticut, 
t  American  Universal  Geography.  In  a  work,  entitled. 
An  Account  of  the  European  Settlements  in  America, 
published  in  London,  in  the  year  1777,  there  is  a 
statement  of  the  population  of  the  New  England  colo- 
nies, upon  which,  however,  no  reliance  is  to  be  placed. 
The  population  of  Connecticut  is  there  given  at  only  a 
hundred  thousand  ;  but  this  estimate,  like  all  the  rest,  is 
too  low.  They  stand  as  follows  : 

Massachusetts  Bay  200,000 

Connecticut  100,000 

Rhode  Island  30,000 

New  Hampshire  24,000 

Total  .154,000 


195 

In  1790,  it  was  237,946 ;  the  increase  in 
eight  years  being  28,796.  The  troubles  of  the 
revolution,  and  a  spirit  of  emigration,  are  as- 
signed as  the  causes  of  the  comparatively  small 
increase  of  the  eight  years  preceding  the  year 
1782.  Subjoined  is  the  census  of  1790. 


Counties. 

Total  JVb. 
Iii/iabit. 

Females. 

Slaves. 

Cluef  Towns 

Hartford, 

38,029 

18,714 

263 

Hartford 

Newhaven 

30,830 

15,258 

433 

Newhaven 

New  London 

33,200 

16,478 

586 

CN.  London 
^  Norwich 

Fairfield 

36,250 

17,541 

797 

<  Fairfield 
(Danbury 

Windham 

28,921 

14,406 

184 

Windham 

Litchfield 

38,755 

18,909 

233 

Litchfield 

Middlesex 

18,855 

9,632 

221 

C  Middlesex 
£  Haddam 

Tolland 

13,106 

6,510 

47 

Tolland 

Total,  eight    237,946         117,448      2,764 

The  Account  of  the  European  Settlements  is  now  at- 
tributed to  the  Right  Honourable  Edmund  Burke  ;  and 
it  is  to  be  confessed,  that  the  pen  of  that  great  man  does 
appear  to  betray  itself  in  the  composition.  It  were  to 
be  wished,  however,  that  the  charge  be  removed ;  for 
this  book  adds  nothing  to  his  reputation.  It  is  full  of  the 
most  false  assertions,  and  of  the  most  absurd  declama- 
tion. Its  facts  are  collected  with  extreme  credulity. 
Raynal  is  its  authority,  even  upon  the  affairs  of  the  En- 
glish colonies;  and  the  representations,  and  even  the  sen- 
timents of  this  writer,  as  well  as  of  Lafitau  and  others, 
are  translated  and  transcribed,  with  the  most  con- 


196 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


In  1800,  the  number  was  25 1,002;  the  increase, 
in  ten.  years,  being  13,056.  This  increase  is 
still  in  smaller  proportion  than  that  of  the  eight 
years  preceding  1782.  The  cause  is  doubt- 
lessly an  increased  emigration. 

Census  for  the  Year  1800. 


.V*. 

JVo. 

. 

JYo. 

M. 

Counties. 

Towns. 

Inhab. 

Chief  Toivm. 

Inlwb.    Slave*. 

1790. 

•  1800. 

1800. 

1800. 

v-U 

Hartford 

15 

42,147 

Hartford 

5,347 

67 

Newhaven 

14 

32,162 

Newhaven 

5,157 

236 

New  London 

11 

34,888 

5  New  London 
\  Norwich 

.3,475 

209 

Fairfield 

14 

38,208 

C  Fairfield 
£  Danbury 

3,735 
3,180 

275 

Windham 

14 

28,222 

Windham 

2,354 

35 

Litchfield 

23 

41,214 

Litchfield 

4,215 

47 

Middlesex 

7 

19,874 

$  Middletown 
£  Haddam 

5,001 
2,317 

72 

Tolland 

9 

14,319 

Tolland 

1,638 

9 

Total 


8    107     251,002 


950 


temptible  servility.  In  some  places,  the  translation 
being  bad,  the  sentiment  is  spoiled,  and  the  argument 
made  absurd. 

There  is  another  view  in  which  it  is  not  less  censurable. 
It  is  a  party  book  ;  and,  in  the  true  spirit  of  party,  the 
author  yields  the  most  implicit  belief  to  every  thing  that 
can  assist  his  cause.  He  aims  at  vilifying  the  colonial 
administration  of  Great  Britain ;  and,  by  way  of  con- 
trast, he  is  so  unfortunate  as  to  fix  upon  the  colonial  ad- 
ministration of  France,  (and  of  France  too  in  Canada  0 
as  an  object  of  admiration  ! 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  197 

The  number  of  slaves,  in  1790,  was  2,764  ; 
and  in  1800,  951 ;  the  decrease,  in  ten  years, 
being  1,613,  or  nearly  two- thirds  of  the  whole. 

In  1792,  the  amount  of  the  grand  list  was 
£183,159  0  0.* 

Before  the  separation  from  Great  Britain,  the 
ordinary  annual  expences  of  the  government  fell 
short  of  £4,000  currency.! 

In  1787,  the  amount  of  the  grand  list  was 
£1,533,867  18  5  3-4 
Sum  total  of  the  single 

list,  £1,484,901     4  6  3-4 

Assessments,  47,790     2  9 

One  quarter  of  the  four-folds     1,176     9     4 


Total  £1,533,867  18  5  3-4J 

By  ^assessments  is  meant  those  particular  as- 
sessments which  are  made  by  the  listers  or  by 
the  general  assembly,  in  consequence  of  the  ne- 
glect of  individuals,  or  of  towns. 

*  TrumbuWs  History  of  Connecticut. — For  a  statislical 
view  of  Connecticut,  in  the  year  1713,  see  the  same 
work,  Book  I.  chap,  xviii.  and  for  a  variety  of  statistical 
information  regarding  each  particular  town,  in  the  year 
1807,  see  the  Appendix  to  this  work,  No.  T. 

t  American  Universal  Geography. 

\  American  Gazetteer. 


TKAVELS  THROUGH  VAST 

In  1774,  the  annual  value  of  the 
exported  produce  of  Connecticut,  was 
estimated  at  £200,000 

currency. 

In  the  year  ending  September 
30th,  1791,  the  amount  of  exports 
to  foreign  parts  (those  to  the  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  United  States  being 
excluded)  was  710,340 

In  the  year  1792,  749,925 

In  the  year  1793,  770,239 

In  the  year  1 794,  806, 746 

In  the  year  1800,  1,114,743 

The  following  particulars  are  from  papers  laid 
on  the  table  of  congress  : 

In  the  year  ending  the  30th  of 
September,  1790,  30,616  79-95 
tons  of  shipping  belonging  to  the 
United  States,  entered  the  ports  of 
Connecticut,  on  which  the  duties 
arising  amounted  to  SI, 83 7 

Of  English  shipping,  2,556  tons. 
Duties  1,278 

Of  all  other  countries,  none. 


Total  S3, 115 

Tons  of  shipping  of  the  United 
States  30,616  79-95 

Tons  of  English  shipping  2,556 

Total  of  tons  33,172  79-95 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  ^99 

The  amount  of  tonnage  this  year,  employed  by 
Connecticut  in  the  coasting  trade,  was  6,330.* 

In  the  year  1791,  In  1795. 

the  net  amount  of 
monies  for  duties  on 
imports,  tonnage, 
fines,  penalties  and 
forfeitures,  received 
for  the  treasury  of 
the  United  States  by 
the  collector  of  the 
customs  in  Connec- 
ticut, was  894,048  61  105,283  21 

The  expense  on 
collecting  the  reve- 
nue, was  5,938  9  18,052  6 

Allowance  by  the 
United  States  to  ves- 
sels employed  in  the 
fisheries  1,793  34 

*  Total  of  the  Tonnage  of  the  United  States. 

Tons.  Ton* 

American  vessels   em- 
ployed  in  the  foreign  trade  363,093  40-95  I 

American  coasters,  above  /502  526  40-95 

20  tons  113,181  I 

Ditto  on  the  Fisheries         26,252 

Total  foreign  tonnage  262,91357-95 

United  States  and  British  312   1-2 

Ditto  and  other  foreign  338  2-3 

Total  766,091    16-95 


200         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

1791.  1795. 

Bounties  on  salted 

fish    and   provisions 

exported  2,028  17          2,078  08 

'Drawbacks  on  do- 
mestic distilled  li- 
quors exported  194  34  871  91 

Drawbacks  on  fo- 
reign merchandise 
exported  32  67  155  16 

Fines,  penalties 
and  forfeitures  10 

Duties  on  ton- 
nage 2,461  95  1-2  1,404  35 

Duties  on  mer- 
chandise 99,780  74  1-2  116,819  41 

In  the  year  1792, 103,644  gal- 
lons of  spirituous  liquors  were 
distilled  from  foreign  materials, 
and  11,639  from  domestic;  ma- 
king a  total  of  115,283 

The  duties  on  spirits  removed 
amounted  in  gross  to  813,194  86  1-2 

Nett  amount,  12,997  32 

In  the  year  1792,  the  amount 
of  duties  on  spirituous  liquors, 
distilled  in  Connecticut,  was  3,460  38 

On  country  stills,  787  94 

2 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


201 


But  these  duties  are  no  longer 
exacted. 

In  1803,  when  a  direct  tax  or 
subsidy  of  two  millions  of  dollars 
was  required  by  an  act  of  con- 
gress,  the  quota  of  Connecticut 
amounted  to 

The  consequent  assessment  in 


129,767    0 


the  state  was                                     130,186  14* 
*  The  quotas  and  assessments  on  the  respective  states 

were  severally  as  follows  : 

STATE. 

Quota  by  the  act 
of  Congress. 

Assessment. 

D.     C.  M. 

D.      C.    M. 

New  Hampshire^ 

77,705  36  2 

77,850 

Massachusetts  * 

260,435   31   2 

261,128   49 

Rhode  Island^' 

37,502  08 

37,393   31    4 

Connecticut  > 

129,767  0     2 

130,186   14  7 

Vermont,  y 

46,864   18  7 

46,932    11 

New  York,  >/ 

181,680  70  9 

182,267   27 

New  Jersey,'' 

98,387  25   3 

98,226    10 

Pennsylvania,  V 

237,177   72  7 

237,700  56  9 

Delaware,  V 

30,430  79  2 

30,309   90 

Maryland,  S 

152,599   95   4 

153,901   96 

Virginia, 

345,488   66  5 

349,900  30 

Kcntiu  k)  , 

37,643  99   7 

38,166  44  8 

Tennessee, 

18,806  38   3 

18,770    15   5 

North  Carolina, 

193,697  96  5 

192,697  96  5 

1,848,187   38   6 

1,855,430  72   8 

South  Carolina,  "4 

112,997  73  9 

Georgia,   -i 

38,814  87  5 

2,000,000  00 

VOL.   I. 

C  C 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Connecticut —  Windsor. 

FROM  Hartford,  I  turned  toward  the  north- 
west corner  of  this  territory,  purposing  to 
make  a  stage  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  state- 
prison,  a  romantic  sort  of  establishment,  of 
which  however  all  the  romance  will  vanish  from 
the  reader's  mind,  when  he  learns  its  name. 
My  road  lay  through  Windsor,  the  town  which 
adjoins  Hartford  on  the  north,  and  which  has 
already  been  mentioned  as  one  of  the  three  an- 
cient settlements. 

A  few  miles  brought  me  to  a  river  that  de- 
serves a  better  fate  than  to  be  known,  as  known 
it  is,  by  no  other  appellation  than  Windsor- 
ferry  river.  It  is  a  beautiful  stream,  which, 
rising  on  the  frontier  of  Massachusetts,  among 
the  mountains  of  the  Western  Range,  called  in 
Vermont  the  Green  Mountains,  descends,  by 
a  south-east  course,  towards  the  valley  of  the 
Connecticut,  but  unable  to  find  an  opening, 
through  a  range  of  hills  which  lie  on  the  west- 
ward of  that  valley,  it  forms  an  abrupt  elbow, 
and  then  travels  far  to  the  northward.  At  length, 
from  a  spot,  called  Pickerel  Cove  or  Fishing 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  &e.         203 

Cove,  it  again  flows  to  the  south-east,  turning 
as  abruptly  as  before,  and,  at  the  end  of  many 
windings,  at  length  finds  an  outlet.  On  its  way 
through  New  Hartford,  which  is  a  town  on  the 
upper  part  of  its  course,  it  passes  a  spot  call- 
ed Satan's  Kingdom.  In  Farmington,  a 
small  river,  there  called  the  Little  Poqua- 
bock,  and  higher  up  called  Cambridge  ri- 
ver, unites  itself  with  this ;  and  at  Pickerel 
Cove  another,  called  Salmon-brook,  becomes  a 
second  principal  tributary.  This  river  is  some- 
times called  Farmington  river,  through  all  its 
course,  and  sometimes  as  far  as  where  it 
first  turns  to  the  north ;  and  below  this,  some- 
times Little  river,  but  more  strictly  Windsor- 
ferry  river.  It  was  once  perhaps  called  the  Po- 
quabock.  It  might  be  elegantly  called  the 
Tunxis ;  for  it  is  through  a  fine  and  fertile  por- 
tion of  the  ancient  Tunxis  that  it  flows. 

At  the  site  of  the  ferry,  a  wooden  bridge  has 
been  erected ;  but  the  floods,  in  the  spring,  had 
materially  damaged  this,  as  well  as  several  other 
bridges.  The  river  passed,  when  I  saw  it,  at 
the  bottom  of  banks  of  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  in 
height,  and  was  about  thirty  yards  in  width. 
The  banks  consist  in  a  sandy  loam. 

On  the  north  bank,  it  had  been  recommended 
to  me  to  inquire  for  Plymouth  Meadow,  a  point 
of  land,  at  the  confluence  of  the  two  rivers,  on 
which  the  first  English  adventurers  obtained  an 


204         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

establishment;  the  date  of  their  arrival    being 
1633. 

As  I  had  been  taught  to  expect,  I  found  ah 
obliging  guide  in  Colonel  Mather,  the  present 
owner  of  the  soil.  The  meadow  is  annually 
covered  with  water,  to  a  considerable  height,  a 
circumstance  respecting  which  the  tradition  re- 
mains, that  the  Indians  gave  warning  to  the 
English.  The  point  of  land,  however,  being 
somewhat  elevated,  the  warning  was  disregard- 
ed. Plymouth  House  was  set  upon  the  point, 
and  no  fears  were  entertained.  In  the  spring, 
the  water  flowed  suddenly  over  the  low  ground, 
between  the  point  and  the  lands  on  which  the  In- 
dians, more  experienced,  lived.  The  English 
were  presently  insulated  ;  and,  the  floods  conti- 
nuing to  rise,  their  situation  would  have  become 
desperate,  but  for  the  timely  assistance  of  the 
Indians,  who  brought  them  off  in  their  canoes. 

Plymouth  House  was  all  that  the  English 
owned  in  Windsor  at  this  time.  The  town  was 
settled  in  1636,  and  then  called  Dorchester;  but 
very  shortly  after  received  the  name  of  Windsor. 
Its  ancient  limits  comprehended  not  only  what  is 
still  called  Windsor,  but  also  East  Windsor, 
which  is  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Connecti- 
cut ;  and  Ellington,  which  lies  still  further  to 
the  east.  East  and  West  Windsor  \vere  divided 
about  the  year  1661,  at  the  conclusion  of  the 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.         205 

French  war.  The  first  settlers,  for  the  most 
part,  were  originally  from  Lancaster ;  there  are 
many  Irish  families,  particularly  in  that  division 
now  called  Ellington. 

Windsor  is  divided  into  three  societies  or  pa- 
rishes, of  which  that  called  Wintownbury  is  in 
the  west,  the  Irish  or  united  society  in  the  east, 
and  Pauquonuc  in  the  north. 

The  first  society  was  united  in  1686,  by  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Samuel  Mather,  whose  great 
grandson  is  the  present  Colonel  Mather.  It  was 
divided  again  in  1754,  but  reunited  in  1793. 

The  town  supports  about  six  or  seven  poor, 
and  gives  some  assistance  to  about  fifteen  more. 
As  in  the  other  towns,  a  bargain  is  made  by  auc- 
tion for  their  relief ;  and  the  annual  cost,  on  an 
average  of  some  years,  is  three  hundred  dollars. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

Connecticut — Newgate  Prison. 

THE  reader  is  forewarned,  that  he  has  to  travel 
with  me,  either  in  fact  or  in  name,  over  the 
whole  peopled  earth.  He  must  express  no 
surprise,  therefore,  at  any  thing  which  may 
appear  at  the  head  of  my  chapters,  or  else- 
where. 

The  state-prison,  my  design  of  visiting  which 
has  been  mentioned,  is  situate  on  West  Moun- 
tain. It  is  in  the  town  of  Granby,  but  its  own 
name  is  Newgate.  Granby  adjoins  Windsor  on 
the  west,  and  was  once  a  part  of  Simsbury. 

The  road,  after  again  crossing,  at  a  ford,  the 
Windsor- ferry  river,  leads  to  the  mountains 
which  confine  the  stream,  in  its  retrogade  journey 
to  the  northward.  I  was  obliged  to  go  to  a  ford, 
On  account  of  the  damage  done  by  the  floods  to 
a  second  bridge.  The  weather  was  now  exceed- 
ingly fine,  and  the  country  alternately  rich  with 
pasture,  and  wild  with  rocks  and  hills.  The  sun 
was  declining  in  the  west,  and  spreading  every- 
where his  evening  glories. 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PAIIT,  kc  207 

The  approach  of  evening,  however,  gave  me 
one  ground  of  disquiet.  I  was  advancing  to  a 
gaol,  and  that  gaol,  a  Newgate.  Undeceived  as  to 
the  first  idea  which  presented  itself,  that  this 
Newgate  must  be  in  the  midst  of  some  populous 
neighbourhood,  I  was  scarcely  better  pleased 
when  I  discovered,  that  it  stood  almost  in  a  soli- 
tude of  wood  and  mountains.  My  wish  was 
to  see  it,  and  yet  go  further  the  same  night ;  but 
I  learned  that  there  was  no  inn  near  it,  except 
one,  which  I  thought  too  near ; — for  it  was  at  the 
gate.  Things,  however,  being  thus,  I  resigned 
myself  to  their  control,  and  proceeded  to  the 
gaol  of  Newgate. 

Ascending,  by  a  rocky  road,  the  western  side 
of  the  mountain,  I  discovered  at  length  the 
walls  of  the  prison,  rising  gray  upon  the 
brow.  On  the  east,  the  road  was  skirted, 
at  a  small  distance,  by  lofty  and  precipitous 
eraggs,  and  on  the  west  lay  extensive  valleys, 
with  mountains  in  the  distance. 

The  prison-walls  were  by  the  road  side,  on  the 
left ;  on  the  right,  and  immediately  opposite  the 
gate,  I  saw  a  house  of  respectable  figure  and  di- 
mensions, wooden  and  white  painted.  This  was 
the  inn  ;  on  reaching  the  door  of  which,  I  saw 
a  few  men,  two  or  three  of  whom  were  in  mili- 
tary uniform,  engaged  at  skittles,  or  in  some 
such  recreation. 


208          TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

On  entering  the  house,  the  good  looks  of  the 
landlord  afforded  me  some  consolation  ;  and 
this  was  the  more  important,  as  I  had  not  arri- 
ved at  the  hour  of  the  day  proper  for  visiting 
the  gaol.  The  men  in  uniform  were  a  part  of 
a  military  guard  attached  to  the  establishment, 
but  at  this  time  off  duty.  They,  as  well  as  the 
rest,  presently  relinquished  their  game,  and  se- 
parated ;  and  I  found  myself,  for  the  remainder 
of  the  evening,  in  a  quiet  farm-house,  where  I 
was  myself  the  only  guest. 

My  landlord  was  a  plain  and  industrious 
farmer,  in  whom  and  in  whose  family  there  was 
realized,  more  than  in  any  other  instance  that  I 
have  happened  to  meet  with,  the  picture,  which 
the  imagination  of  so  many  has  drawn,  as  that 
of  the  agricultural  life  in  America.  He  was 
himself  a  grandfather,  and  he  had  living  with 
him,  in  his  house,  his  very  aged  mother.  He 
was  the  father  of  nine  children,  of  whom  one  or 
two  were  married  and  settled  at  a  distance  ;  one 
or  two,  in  his  immediate  neighbourhood  ;  and 
two  daughters,  and  two  or  three  sons,  were  still 
under  his  roof.  All  the  members  of  the  family 
were  personable  and  well -featured  ;  and  the  two 
girls  were  beauties,  one  a  blue-eyed  blonde,  and 
the  other  a  dark-haired  brunette.  I  found  them 
employed,  in  a  building  detached  from  the 
house,  the  one  at  the  wheel,  and  the  other  at  the 
2 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES.         209 

loom.  They  were  presently  afterward  in  the 
farm-yard,  milking  the  cows.  It  is  generally 
said  in  Connecticut,  but  with  what  justice  I  am 
not  otherwise  able  to  represent,  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  mountainous  parts,  and  generally 
those  that  are  not  seated  on  the  fertile  meads 
which  border  the  Connecticut,  compose  the 
more  industrious  and  more  sober  part  of  the 
community. 

This  family  appeared  to  possess  much  of  what 
is  called  rural  simplicity,  a  phrase,  like  the  thing 
which  it  represents,  of  the  growth  of  the  old 
world,  and  rarely  to  be  met  with  in  these  parts  of 
the  new.  On  one  subject,  however,  the  credu- 
lity which  I  discovered  in  my  landlord  and  his 
neighbours,  in  no  respect  distinguished  them 
from  the  mass  of  the  humbler  classes  of  their 
fellow-countrymen  :  it  was  that  of  reposing  confi- 
dence in  the  skill  of  certain  persons  to  discover 
money  and  metals  buried  or  concealed  in  the 
earth.  I  was  assured,  that  there  was  to  be 
found  in  the  surrounding  hills,  a  black  stone,  off 
a  certain  species,  through  which  a  seventh  son 
of  a  seventh  son,  born  in  the  month  of  February, 
with  a  caul  on  his  head,  can  discern  ever}'  thing 
that  lies  in  the  depths  and  interior  of  the  globe. 

The  prisoners  in  the  gaol  are  kept  to  hard  la- 
bour at  smiths'  work,  within  the  walls;  and  their 
task,  which  ends  at  four  o'clock  in  the  after  - 

VOL.  i.  Dd 


210         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

noon,  commences  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing. My  landlord  recommended  that  I  should 
witness  their  first  appearance  in  the  morning,  and 
I  followed  his  advice. 

It  is  the  plan  of  this  establishment  to  make  it 
an  object  of  terror.  Several  of  the  higher 
crimes  are  punished  by  confinement  in  this 
place  for  life  ;  while,  for  lesser,  the  duration  is 
limited  to  certain  terms  of  years.  While  con- 
fined, however,  every  prisoner  partakes  of  the 
common  fate. 

On  being  admitted  into  the  gaol-yard,  I  found 
a  sentry  under  arms  within  the  gate,  and  eight 
soldiers  drawn  up  in  a  line,  in  front  of  the  gaoler's 
house.  A  bell,  summoning  the  prisoners  to 
work,  had  already  rung  ;  and  in  a  few  moments 
they  began  to  make  their  appearance. 

They  came  in  irregular  numbers,  sometimes 
two  or  three  together,  and  sometimes  a  single 
one  alone  ;  but,  whenever  one  or  more  were 
about  to  cross  the  yard  to  the  smithy,  the  sol- 
diers were  ordered  to  present,  in  readiness  to  fire. 
The  prisoners  were  heavily  ironed,  and  secured 
.  both  by  hand-cuffs  and  fetters  ;  and,  being  there - 
""•  fore  unable  to  walk,  could  only  make  their  way 
by  a  sort  of  jump  or  a  hop.  On  entering  the 
smithy,  some  went  to  the  sides  of  the  forges, 
where  collars,  dependent  by  iron  chains  from  the 
roof,  were  fastened  round  their  necks,  and  others 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

were  chained  in  pairs  to  wheelbarrows.  The 
number  of  prisoners  was  about  forty ;  and 
when  they  were  all  disposed  of,  in  the  manner 
described,  sentries  were  placed  within  the  build- 
ing which  contained  them.  After  viewing  thus 
far  the  economy  of  this  prison,  I  left  it,  propo- 
sing to  visit  the  cells  at  a  later  hour. 

This  establishment,  as  I  have  said,  is  designed 
to  be,  from  all  its  arrangements,  an  object  of 
terror ;  and  every  thing  is  accordingly  contri- 
ved, to  make  the  life  endured  in  it  as  burden- 
some and  miserable  as  possible. 

In  conformity  with  this  idea,  the  place  chosen 
for  the  prison  is  no  other  than  the  mouth 
of  a  forsaken  copper-mine,  of  which  the  exca- 
vations are  employed  for  cells.  They  are  de- 
scended by  a  shaft,  which  is  secured  by  a  trap- 
door, within  the  prison-house,  or  gaoler's  house, 
which  stands  upon  the  mine. 

The  trap-door  being  lifted  up,  I  went  down  an 
iron  ladder,  perpendicularly  fixed,  to  the  depth 
of  about  fifty  feet.  From  the  foot  of  the  lad- 
der, a  rough,  narrow  and  low  passage  descends 
still  deeper,  till  it  terminates  at  a  well  of  clear 
water,  over  which  is  an  air-shaft,  seventy  feet  in 
height,  and  guarded  at  its  mouth,  which  is 
within  the  gaol-yard,  by  a  hatch  of  iron.  The 
cells  are  near  the  well,  but  at  different  depths, 
beneath  the  surface,  none  perhaps  exceeding 


212 


TKAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


sixty  feet.  Theyare  small,  rugged,  and  accommo 
dated  only  with  wooden  births,  and  some  straw. 

The  straw  was  wet,  and  there  was  much  hu- 
midity in  every  part  of  this  obscure  region ;  but 
I  was  assured  I  ought  to  attribute  this  only  to 
the  remarkable  wetness  of  the  season ;  that  the 
cells  were  in  general  dry,  and  that  they  were 
not  found  unfavourable  to  the  health  of  the 
prisoners. 

Into  these  cells  the  prisoners  are  dismissed  at 
four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  every  day  without 
exception,  and  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  They 
descend  in  their  fetters  and  hand- cuffs  ;  and  at 
four  o'clock  in  the  morning  they  ascend  the  iron 
ladder,  climbing  it  as  well  they  can,  by  the  aid 
of  their  fettered  limbs.  It  is  to  be  observed 
that  no  women  are  confined  here  ;  the  law  pro- 
viding, that  female  convicts,  guilty  of  crimes  for 
which  men  are  to  be  confined  in  Newgate-prison, 
are  to  be  sent  only  to  the  county-gaols. 

Going  again  into  the  workshop  or  smithy,  I 
found  the  attendants  of  the  prison  delivering 
pickled  pork  for  the  dinner  of  the  prisoners. 
Pieces  were  given  separately  to  the  parties  at  each 
forge.  They  were  thrown  upon  the  floor,  and 
left  to  be  washed  and  boiled  in  the  water  used 
For  cooling  the  iron  wrought  at  the  forges.  Meat 
had  been  distributed  in  like  manner  for  break- 
fast- The  food  of  the  prison  is  regulated  for 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  213 

each  day  in  the  week  ;  and  consists  in  an  alter- 
nation of  pork,  beef,  and  peas,  with  which  last 
no  flesh  meat  is  allowed. 

Besides  the  caverns  or  excavations  below, 
and  the  gaoler's  house  above,  there  are  other 
apartments  prepared  for  the  prisoners,  and  par- 
ticularly a  hospital,  of  which  the  neatness  and 
airiness  afford  a  strong  contrast  to  the  other 
parts  of  the  prison.  It  was  also  satisfactory  to 
find  that  in  this  hospital  there  were  no  sick. 

Such  is  the  seat  and  the  scene  of  punish- 
ment, provided  by  Connecticut,  for  criminals, 
not  guilty  of  murder,  treason,  or  either  of  a  few 
other  capital  offences.  What  judgment  the  rea- 
der will  pass  upon  it,  I  do  not  venture  to  antici- 
pate ;  but,  for  myself,  I  cannot  get  rid  of  the  im- 
pression, that  without  any  extraordinary  cruelty 
in  its  actual  operation,  there  is  something  very 
like  cruelty  in  the  device  and  design. 

Be  this,  however,  as  it  may,  the  idea  was  not 
diminished  in  my  mind,  by  an  anecdote  that 
I  learned,  and  that  belongs  to  the  history 
of  the  government  of  the  prison  ;  which  govern- 
is  exercised  by  overseers,  appointed  from 
time  to  time  by  the  general  assembly. 

A  prisoner  in  this  gaol,  (and  who  happened  to 
be  the  leader  of  those  robbers  whom  I  have  for- 
merly mentioned,  as  inhabiting  the  mountains 
near  Middletown,)  resorted  to  the  artifice,  not 


214         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

altogether  without  example,  of  maiming  him- 
self, for  the  purpose  of  escaping  from  labour, 
The  use  of  one  hand,  however,  was  still  left 
him  ;  and,    by   employing  this,  the  overseers 
defeated   his   project.     They   set   up,    in   the 
gaol-yard,  a  vessel    like  the    hopper  of  a  mill, 
with  a  small  aperture  at  the  bottom ;  and,  chain- 
ing him   to   this,    compelled   him,  during  the 
usual   hours,    to  attempt  to    fill  it   with    sand. 
This  device,   borrowed  from  the  fable  of  the 
daughters  of  Danaus,  was  ingeniously  applied ; 
but  ingenuity  in  afflicting  even  a  convict  will 
never  be  reckoned  among  the  virtues. — As  to  the 
subterranean   cells  in  this  prison,  they  are  ra- 
ther adapted  to  convey  horror  to  a  transitory 
visitor,  than  to  occasion  any   particular  misery 
to  those  who  become  their  inhabitants.     A  hu- 
mane visitor  will  console  himself  with  this  re- 
flection ;  but  he  will  still  call  in  question  the  rec- 
titude of  the  persons  by  whom  those  inhabitants 
are  placed  there  under  a  very  different  intention. 
Every  circumstance  of  pain  that  is  pointed  out 
to  him,  every  ragged  projection   in  the  walls, 
every  broken  and  dangerous  part  of   the  de- 
scent ;  the  black  mud  that  soils  his  clothes  ;  the 
narrowness  and  obscurity  of  the  cells ;  all  will 
rather  offend    his  judgment,   than   amuse  his 
fancv.     He  will  never  be  able  to  wnderstand, 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES.  215 

that  good  men  can  occupy   themselves  in  the 
invention  of  circumstances  of  distress, 

sights  of  woe, 


Regions  of  sorrow,  doleful  shades,  where  peace 
And  rest  can  never  dwell ;  hope  never  comes, 
That  comes  to  all ! 

But,  though  no  large  addition  may  be  made 
to  the  misery  of  the  prisoner,  it  does  not  fol- 
low that  nothing  is  added  to  his  depravity. 
Prisoners  in  this  gaol  are  treated  precisely  as 
tigers  are  treated  in  a  menagerie ;  and  if  the 
minds  of  men  are  influenced  by  education,  then 
the  education  of  a  tiger  may  be  expected  to 
make  a  tiger  of  the  man.  From  all  persons  in 
and  about  the  gaol,  you  hear  of  nothing  but  the 
ferocious  disposition  of  the  prisoners,  and  of 
the  continual  fear  in  which  they  keep  their 
keepers.  Now,  nothing  ought  less  to  excite- 
our  surprise  than  this.  Every  thing  that  human 
art  can  do,  is  in  this  instance  done,  to  brutify 
and  inflame  the  victim  ;  and  what  more  natural, 
than  that  this  being  done,  he  should  in  his  own 
turn  become  an  object  of  alarm,  to  those  by 
whom  he  is  brutified  and  inflamed  ? 

If  we  should  coolly  ask,  with  what  view  this 
system  is  supported,  we  must  be  answered,  either 
that  it  is  to  reform,  or  it  is  to  punish.  If  it  be- 
to  reform,  it  is  one  of  the  weakest  of  all  human 
projects ;  if  to  punish,  it  is  one  of  the  most 


216         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

barbarous.  Lawgivers,  too  humane  to  rob  male- 
factors of  life,  can  yet  plan  to  rob  them  of  all 
the  enjoyments  and  all  the  hopes  of  life  ;  can  see 
them  wear  out  their  days  and  nights  in  long 
protracted  suffering ;  can  do  all,  that  in  them 
lies,  either  to  deprive  their  victims  of  human 
faculties,  here  rendered  useless  to  the  possessor, 
or  to  turn  those  faculties  into  the  sole  direction 
of  malice  and  ferocity ;  malice  against  the  au- 
thors of  their  misery,  and  ferocity  in  their  schemes 
of  liberty  and  vengeance  ! 

One  material  defect  seems  undeniable.  It  is 
inconsistent  with  common  prudence  to  confine 
those,  whose  imprisonment  is  only  for  a  term  of 
years,  together  with  those  who  are  to  be  impri- 
soned for  life.  There  can  be  nothing  conceiv- 
ed, too  full  of  violence,  too  daring  or  too  wicked, 
for  the  minds  of  men  placed  in  the  situation  of 
the  latter ;  and  such  as  for  seven,  for  four- 
teen years  or  more,  have  been  their  associates, 
can  be  scarcely  fit  to  be  trusted  into  society 
again.  I  am  assured  that  those,  who  have  been 
once  confined  in  this  gaol,  are  commonly  brought 
back  at  no  long  interval.  If  it  is  replied,  that  this 
frequently  happens  at  all  gaols,  the  fact,  that 
it  happens  here,  may  at  least  authorise  us  to  be- 
lieve, that  there  is  nothing  peculiarly  beneficial 
in  the  system,  nor  in  all  the  waste  of  cruelty,  or 
attempt  at  cruelty,  which  distinguishes  it. 
1 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES.         217 

So  strong  is  the  fear  entertained,  of  violence 
on  the  part  of  the  prisoners  or  of  their  friends, 
that  the  overseers  are  invested  by  law  with  the 
extraordinary  power  of  seizing  and  "  confining 
"  in  the  caverns,  till  they  can  be  otherwise  dis- 
"  posed  of  according  to  law,  spectators  and 
"  others  who  shall  be  found  lurking  without 
"  the  pickets."  Pickets  formerly  supplied  the 
place  of  the  present  walls.  The  military 
guard  consists  in  ten  privates  and  three  officers. 
Their  regimentals  are  blue  ;  and  they  compose 
the  whole  of  the  regular  army  of  Connecticut. 

What  is  further  enacted  betrays  some  of  the 
peculiarities  of  the  legislation  received  in  the 
United  States  :  "  Be  it  further  enacted,  That 
"  at  the  expiration  of  the  term  of  confinement 
"  for  which  any  prisoner  is,  or  shall  be  senten- 
"  ced  to  NewTgate-prison,  if  it  appear  by  the 
"  warrant  of  commitment,  that  he  is  ordered  to 
"  stand  committed  until  the  cost  be  paid,  and 
"  such  prisoner  shall  not  be  able  to  pay  the 
"  cost,  or  to  secure  the  same,  to  the  acceptance 
"  of  the  overseers  of  said  prison,  in  such  case, 
44  the  overseers  are  hereby  authorised  and  em- 
"  powered  to  assign  such  prisoner  in  service,  to 
"  some  inhabitant  of  this  state,  or  of  any  of  the 
"  United  States,  for  such  term  as  they  shall 
"  judge  necessary,  to  pay  such  cost,  taking  rea- 
"  sonable  security  of  such  inhabitant  to  pay  the 

VOL  i.  EC 


218        TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  ice. 

"  same  to  the  state ;  but  if  no  suitable  person 
"  appear  to  take  in  service  such  prisoner,  the 
"  overseers  may  direct  the  master  of  the  prison 
"  to  hold  him  in  service,  within  said  prison,  and 
"  for  such  term  as  may  be  limited  by  the  over- 
"  seers  to  pay  such  cost ;  who  are  directed  to 
"  allow  such  prisoner,  customary  journeyman's 
"  wages  for  like  services  ;  and  the  master  of  the 
"  prison  shall  have  power  to  confine  such  pri- 
"  soner  at  his  labour,  so  far  as  the  safe  keeping 
"  of  the  prisoners  in  general  may  demand.  But 
"  if  such  prisoner  shall  be  unable  to  labour,  the 
"  overseers,  first  taking  the  best  security  for  the 
"  cost  that  may  be  obtained,  shall  order  the 
"  master  to  discharge  him.  Be  it  further  en- 
"  acted,  That  if  any  prisoner  shall  make  his 
"  escape  from  said  prison  and  shall  be  retaken, 
"  and  recommitted,  the  necessary  expense  of 
"  pursuit  and  recommitment,  to  be  allowed  by 
"  the  overseers,  shall  be  paid  and  satisfied  by 
"  such  prisoner,  as  is  herein  provided  for  the 
"  payment  of  original  bills  of  cost,  taxed  by 
"  the  court ;  and  the  overseers  shall  dispose  of 
"  such  prisoner  accordingly." 

The  annual  cost  of  this  prison  to  the 
state  lias  already  appeared  to  be  about  three 
thousand  dollars. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

Connecticut — 'Canton — Canaan — Hartland — 
Colebrook — Norfolk. 

BEFORE  I  quitted  my  inn  at  the  prison-gate, 
I  ascended  the  rocky  ridge  which  rises  to  the 
westward  of  the  prison,  and  at  the  foot  of  which 
my  landlord  had  at  least  the  home-fields  of  his 
farm.  The  interval  is  a  hollow,  divided  through 
its  middle  by  a  brook,  or  rather  by  the  channel  of 
a  mountain- stream.  Toward  the  summit  the 
sides  of  the  rocks,  are  perpendicular ;  and  it  was 
only  by  the  aid  of  fragments  and  fissures  that  I 
ascended  them.  It  is  observable,  that  this  de- 
scription agrees  with  that  of  the  whole  western 
face  of  the  Turkey  Mountains ;  while,  on  the 
east,  their  declivities  are  every  where  gradual. 
The  mountains  have  their  name  from  the  flocks 
of  wild  turkeys  by  which  they  were  formerly 
frequented,  but  of  which  none  are  at  present 
seen. 

The  substance  of  these  mountains,  from  Gran- 
by  downward  to  Newhaven,  is  uniformly  a  ba- 
saltic stone,  called  whin-stone,  andpeperino-stone, 
and  of  which  the  component  parts  are  found 
to  be  indurated  clay  and  iron.  Its  surface,  when 


220 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


long  exposed  to  the  atmosphere,  becomes  red 
with  the  rust  or  oxyd  of  that  metal,  and  in  its 
fractures  it  every  where  affects  the  columnar 
form,  detaching  itself  in  upright  and  polygonal 
masses.  Those  masses,  however,  separate  them- 
selves into  others  more  minute ;  insomuch,  that 
at  the  feet  of  all  these  mountains,  there  are 
heaps  of  smaller  fragments  of  all  sizes,  and 
all  of  which  still  retain  something  of  the 
prismatic  form.  The  stone  is  heavy,  and,  when 
not  oxydated,  its  colour  is  a  light  brown.  How 
high  it  accompanies  the  range,  in  its  progress 
toward  Lake  George,  or  rather  to  the  countries 
eastward  of  that  lake,  I  have  not  ascertained ;  but 
it  appears  to  terminate  before  it  enters  the  lower 
parts  of  Vermont,  where  I  suspect  that  it  loses 
itself  in  schist.  Peperino- stone  presents  itself 
again  on  the  west  bank  of  Hudson's  river,  be- 
low the  spur  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains  which 
forms  the  Highlands  on  that  river;  and,  receding 
into  the  inland  parts  of  New-Jersey,  occa- 
sions the  beautiful  fall  of  the  Passaic,  a  river  in 
that  country.  There,  as  well  as  in  Connecticut, 
it  has  copper  in  its  neighbourhood. 

The  summits  of  the  rocks  that  I  ascended 
are  exceedingly  barren  of  soil,  and  they  support 
only  a  scanty  growth  of  stunted  trees.  Among 
these,  the  evergreens  are  white  spruce-fir,  (Pinus 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

abies    CanadensisJ  here  called  hemlock  or  hem- 
lock-spruce. 

From  Newgate-prison,  I  proceeded  to  Hart- 
land,  a  town  yet  further  to  the  north-west,  and 
still  more  remote  from  the  Connecticut.  For  a 
short  distance,  the  road  led  through  some  beau- 
tiful woods,  and  then  entered  a  plain,  from  the 
Monnatuc  Mountains,  a  detached  portion  of  the 
range.  The  sloping  banks,  formed  by  fallen 
fragments  round  their  feet,  are  clothed  with  oak, 
pine  and  spruce ;  over  which  is  a  crown  of 
columnar  rocks,  itself  surmounted  by  other 
woods.  An  eagle,  sailing  slowr,  with  his  broad 
wing,  above  the  whole,  gave  a  suitable  life 
to  the  picture. 

The  soil  below  is  light  and  alluvial,  and 
variously  covered  with  grass,  with  young  wood, 
and  with  fields  of  rye.  At  the  further  extre- 
mity of  the  level,  is  the  stream  called  Salmon- 
brook,  and  by  its  side  is  the.  small  village 
of  Canton.  Here,  I  found  myself  once  more  on 
a  turnpike-road,  and  at  the  foot  of  the  Poppatun- 
nuc  mountains. 

The  turnpike-road  reaches  only  a  few  miles  ; 
and  beyond  this  is  a  country  in  which  the 
settlements  have  hitherto  made  but  little  pro- 
gress. The  surface  is  rocky,  and  composed 
of  steep  mountains,  divided  only  by  narrovi 
valleys. 


222        TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

The  Poppatunnuc  Mountains,  which  rise  be- 
tween the  Salmon-brook,  and  Farmington-river, 
consist  of  two  ridges,  of  which  one  is  locally 
called  the  East,  and  the  other  the  West  Moun- 
tain. The  East  mountain  is  also  called  the  East 
society,  and  East  Hartland.  Having  ascended 
the  East  Mountain,  by  a  road  rendered  almost 
impassable,  by  the  large  and  loose  stones  and 
stumps  of  trees  with  which  it  is  filled,  I  found 
the  church  and  village  of  the  society  or  parish 
of  East  Hartland,  at  the  distance  of  ten  miles 
from  Newgate  -prison. 

Settlements  were  begun  to  be  made  in  East 
Hartland  in  the  year  1754  but  this  town  is  still  in 
great  part  uncleared.  The  church  is  surround- 
ed by  a  church-yard  or  burying-ground,  a  cir- 
cumstance not  conformable  with  the  usual 
practice  of  this  country.  In  the  church-yard  is 
a  grave-stone,  to  the  memory  of  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  the  town,  and  on  which  is  inscribed 
a  text,  too  applicable  to  the  earlier  colonists  not 
to  have  been  frequently  applied:  We  are 
strangers  and  sojourners  in  the  land.,  as  all  our 
fat  tiers  were. 

East  Hartland  contains,  within  its  whole  ex- 
tent, from  three  to  four  hundred  houses.  It  has 
thrte  district  schools,  and  it  gives  three  hun- 
dred dollars  per  annum  to  its  clergyman.  Wheat 
is  said  to  be  destroyed  here  bv  the  blast ;  and 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  223 

the  chief  wealth  of  the  inhabitants  is  in  their 
pastures.  The  settlement  is  at  present  so  fur 
advanced,  as  to  hold  out  encouragement  for 
making  a  turnpike  road,  which  it  is  proposed 
shortly  to  undertake ;  but  I  saw,  in  the  person 
of  a  Mr.  Knight,  the  first  lawyer  that  1m  ever 
resided  in  the  neighbourhood. 

From  East  Hartland,  I  descended,  by  a  steep 
declivity,  into  a  valley  of  some  width,  in  which 
the  forest  is  begun  to  be  felled.  Beyond  this 
is  the  West  Mountain,  covered  with  woods, 
behind  which  is  the  valley  of  Farmington-river, 
or  the  country  anciently  called  Tunxis. 

By  the  side  of  the  river  is  a  good  road,  on 
which  I  found  a  public  house,  the  first  that  has 
been  established  here,  and  of  which  the  architec- 
ture is  characteristic  of  the  country  and  its  inha- 
bitants. It  has  the  frame  work  of  a  tolerable 
dwelling,  which  in  time  it  will  no  doubt  become. 
Meanwhile,  it  is  inhabited,  though  in  the  most 
unfinished  state  ;  the  floorings  of  the  upper  story, 
the  ceilings  of  the  lower,  and  the  partitions  of 
most  of  the  rooms,  being  to  be  added,  from 
time  to  time,  as  leisure  and  means  shall  offer. 
The  valley  in  which  it  stands  is  exceedingly 
beautiful. 

A  little  above  the  public-house,  the  road  crosses 
a  bridge,  and  here  the  neighbourhood  becomes 
more  populous.  In  West  Hajtland  there  are 


224 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


six  schools,  each  of  which  has  about  thirty,  five 
scholars. 

Beyond  West  Hartland  is  Colebrook,  a  town 
settled  in  1756,  but  which  contains  only  one 
church  or  meeting-house ;  a  part  of  its  inhabitants, 
however,  are  joined  with  parts  of  the  inhabitants 
of  two  neighbouring  towns,  in  a  society  or 
association  of  anabaptists.  Colebrook  has  only 
one  pan  per,  and  that  is  an  aged  negro.  The  coun- 
try round  is  called  the  Green  Woods.  Iron- works 
begin  to  show  themselves  here ;  this  towh 
lying  on  the  eastern  skirts  of  that  country  of 
iron-ore  which  now  lay  before  me. 

The  bones  of  animals  of  extraordinary  size, 
and  particularly  of  the  animal  which  has  receiv- 
ed the  name  of  mammoth,  have  been  found  in 
several  parts  of  those  regions  of  North  America, 
in  which  the  country  is  composed  of  plains, 
abundantly  watered  with  large  rivers  ;  but,  of  the 
ancient  existence  of  such  animals,  even  in  the 
mountainous  and  less  fertile  tracts,  on  the  east  of 
Hudson's  river,  Colebrook,  and  its  vicinity  are 
said  to  have  betrayed  vestiges.  We  are  told, 
that  in  Colebrook  in  the  year  1796,  some 
labourers,  digging  to  the  depth  of  nine  or  ten 
feet,  found  three  large  tusks,  and  two  thigh 
bones,  the  latter  of  which  measured  each  about 
four  feet  and  four  inches  in  length,  and  twelve 
inches  and  a  half  in  circumference.  It  is  added, 


OP  TJU5  UNITE!)  STATES.  225 

that  when  first  discovered,  they  were  entire ; 
but  that  as  soon  as  they  were  exposed  to  the  air, 
they  mouldered  into  dust.* 

On  the  fifth  of  June  I  slept  in  Norfolk,  at  a 
house  situate  on  the  road  between  Hartford  and 
Hudson,  and  distant  from  the  former  place  thir- 
ty-three miles.  Near  it,  at  the  end  of  a  wood, 
is  a  small  lake  or  pool,  called  the  small  or  little 
pond,  in  contradistinction  to  another  that  is  in 
the  town,  and  that  is  larger.  Norfolk  is  nine 
miles  in  length,  by  four  and  a  half  in  width ; 
but  it  contains  only  one  meeting-house.  The 
natural  forest  in  a  great  degree  remains,  and  the 
town  therefore  cannot  be  populous ;  but  it 
would  probably  possess  more  than  one  meeting- 
house, that  is,  it  would  comprise  more  than  one 
parish  or  society,  wrere  it  not  that  many  of  its 
inhabitants  are  of  the  anabaptist  persuasion. 

In  the  morning,  my  journey  lay  along  the 
sides  of  woody  mountains,  called  the  Ragged 
Mountains,  and  which  are  still  part  of  the  Green 
Mountains.  Beneath  the  road  is  a  brook,  called 
Blackberry-river,  on  which  are  several  iron- 
works. In  all  this  country,  which  is  little  in- 

J  * 

vitingto  the  plough,  the  forest  has  only  disap- 
peared in  part ;  but  the  establishment  of  iron- 
works occasions  a  demand  for  charcoal,  and  the 

*  American  Gazetteer. 
VOL.   I.  F  f 


226         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

axe  and  the  flame  are  therefore  now  busily  at 
work. 

Adjoining  Norfolk  is  Canaan.  Here,  the 
country  declines  toward  a  river  called  the  Hou- 
satonic  ;  and  with  this  circumstance,  as  I  believe, 
is  to  be  connected  the  hemispherical  form 
which  the  summits  of  all  the  mountains  wear. 
One  of  these  is  called  Haystack  Mountain.  I 
suppose  this  and  the  rest  to  have  been  fashioned 
by  the  action  of  water.  Among  the  other  de- 
tached eminences  of  this  description,  are  Rattle- 
snake and  Bald  Mountains.  The  rocks  which 
project  from  their  sides  are  encrusted  with  sparry 
concretions,  among  which  are  zeolites  and  other 
substances  that  bespeak  the  presence  of  me- 
tals. 

Along  with  the  ragged  summits  of  the  moun- 
tains, all  the  other  features  of  a  ruder  landscape 
disappear.  The  soil  becomes  gravelly,  and  the 
whole  surface  prepares  the  traveller  for  .his  ap- 
proach to  a  river.  Amid  the  woods  and  softened 
scenery  here  exhibited,  a  small  opening,  by  the 
way-side,  is  devoted  to  the  burial  of  the  dead. 
It  is  unenclosed ;  but  the  situation  is  enough 
of  a  solitude  to  make  this  of  no  importance.  I 
stopped,  and  strolled  among  the  graves.  The 
greater  part  are  distinguished  by  grave- stones 
and  inscriptions  ;  but  I  scarcely  found  one  of  the 
dead  to  whose  name  there  did  not  belong  some 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


227 


military  rank.  From  the  turf  under  which  repose 

the  remains  of  Major  Nahum ,  I  turned  to 

that  which  is  sacred  to  Ensign  Jesse  — —  ;  and 
thence  to  the  peaceful  dwellings  of  a  long  list  of 
colonels,  captains,  corporals  and  generals.  While 
I  was  admiring  within  myself  the  dust  that  cover- 
ed all  these  titled  dead,  I  arrived  at  the  table- 
tombstone  of  a  departed  colonel,  on  which  is 
cut,  with  several  truths  of  equal  value,  that 
which  follows : 

Titles  of  honour  can't  secure  the  great, 
Nor  save  poor  mortals  from  the  laws  of  fate  ! 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


Connecticut —  Canaan — Salisbury —  Sharon . 


*  I  WAS  here  in  the  north  society  of  Canaan. 
Of  this  society,  which  contains  five  or  six 
schools,  the  inhabitants  are  principally  artificers, 
as  nailers,  joiners  and  cartwrights,  or  waggon- 
makers.  Of  the  last  there  are  ten  in  the  society. 
The  number  of  voters,  or  persons  possessing 
the  elective  franchise,  is  about  three  hundred. 
The  paupers  are  about  ten  or  eleven  in  number. 


228         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

In  the  south  society  the  number  of  schools  is 
about  the  same  as  in  the  north. 

The  land  in  this  society  is  more  mountainous 
and  rocky  than  in  the  south  society,  from  which 
it  is  separated  by  a  mountain,  called  Canaan 
Mountain.  It  consists  also,  in  part,  of  large 
swamps  and  morasses.  The  timber  is  pine  and 
oak.  Good  wheat  is  raised  here  ;  and  the  sys- 
tem of  farming  in  this  town,  like  that  of  the 
towns  in  general,  is  to  employ  the  land  alter- 
nately for  grain  and  grass.  In  all  parts,  timo- 
thy, here  called  English  grass,  is  the  grass  cul- 
tivated. Specimens  of  lead  and  iron  ores  are 
frequent  in  the  mountains.  There  is  a  slitting- 
mill  in  the  north  society,  and  several  iron-works 
in  different  parts  of  the  town.  The  Housatonic 
separates  this  town  from  the  town  of  Salisbury. 

Crossing  the  river,  a"nd  passing  over  the 
mountains  that  form  the  opposite  bank,  and  on 
which  are  some  iron- works,  I  descended  into  a 
valley  that  is  watered  by  the  Fell-kill.  Kill 
is  a  Dutch  word,  signifying  a  small  stream  ;  and 
its  occurrence  in  this  place  is  a  monument  of 
the  ancient  progress  of  the  colonists  of  New- 
York  (then  called  the  New  Netherlands)  to  the 
eastward  of  Hudson's  river.  Salisbury  lies  on 
the  furthest  limits  of  Connecticut,  in  this  direc- 
tion. It  is  said  to  have  been  called  by  the  In- 
dians Wiatiac. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  £29 

On  the  banks  of  the  Fell-kill,  and  near  a 
church,  I  found  an  inn.  Salisbury  is  in  a  par- 
ticular manner  devoted  to  the  manufacture  of 
iron,  the  whole  tract  of  country  abounding  in 
bog-ore.  There  are  two  furnaces  in  the  town, 
of  which,  however,  one  is  not  employed.  At 
the  other,  not  only  the  ordinary  hollow  iron  or 
hollow  ware,  is  manufactured,  but  also  anchors 
and  cannon.  There  is  a  carding-machine  in 
this  town,  and  there  was  formerly  a  paper-mill, 
but  this  was  burnt  down  some  years  ago,  and  it 
is  not  rebuilt. 

The  church  or  meeting-house  that  I  saw  is 
the  only  one  in  Salisbury  ;  but  the  number  of 
schools  is  from  ten  to  twelve  ;  and  each  school  is 
attended  by  forty,  fifty  and  even  sixty  scholars. 
The  teachers  are  paid  at  the  rate  of  twelve  dol- 
lars per  month. 

On  the  24th  of  December,  1799,  Mr.  Bing- 
ham,  of  Salisbury,  killed  a  she-bear,  then  large 
with  young.  The  foetuses  were  three  in  number, 
male  and  female,  of  the  size  of  kittens  of  two 
months  old,  and  as  complete  bears  (says  the  na- 
turalist from  whom  I  take  the  account)  as  the} 
could  have  been  at  their  full  growth ;  that  is, 
they  did  not  require  to  be  licked  into  shape,  as 
old  tradition  has  pretended,  and  as  Ovid  and 


230         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

others  h«^e  ventured  to  assert.* — That  the  error 
should  have  remained  so  long  uncontradicted  by- 
positive  testimony  is  probably  to  be  attributed 
to  the  peculiar  habits  of  the  she-bear.  Bears 
retire  to  the  roots  and  hollows  of  trees  almost  at 
the  falling  of  the  first  snow ;  but,  while  the  male 
contents  himself  with  a  hiding-place  near  the 
root  of  a  tree,  the  female  always  chooses  a 
hollow  in  the  upper  part.  It  is  here,  in 
safety  from  the  wolves,  and  during  the  winter 
season,  that  she  brings  forth  ;  and  it  is  not  till 
the  spring,  that  she  leads  her  young,  by  that 
time  well  grown,  out  of  this  secret  place,  f 
All  these  circumstances  must  render  it  a  very 
rare  occurrence,  either  to  find  the  mother  in  a 
gravid  state,  or  the  young  till  some  time  after 
their  birth. 

At  eleven  miles  from  the  meeting-house  in 
Salisbury  is  that  of  Sharon.  The  aspect  of  this 
latter  village  is  particularly  agreeable.  From 
the  meeting-house,  there  is  a  view  up  a  road  or 
street,  which  extends  only  to  a  short  distance 
before  it  ascends  some  lofty  mountains,  distin- 
guished by  those  rounded  or  swelling  contours, 
which,  as  I  have  intimated,  belong  to  the  emi- 

*  Medical  Repository.  Hex.  3d.  Vol.  I.  p.  419. 
t  See   Travels  and  Adventures  in  Canada    and    the 
Indian  Territories,   between   the    years  1760  and  1776. 
by  Alexander  Henry,  Esq.  Chap.  xvii. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  231 

nences  in  this  neighbourhood.  In  the  vale  be- 
low, the  landscape  is  embellished  by  the  mansion 
of  Mr.  John  Cotton  Smith,  a  respectable  attorney, 
and  speaker  of  the  lower  house  of  assembly. 

Sharon  has  been  settled  about  seventy  years, 
It  has  one  forge,  for  the  manufacture  of  bar-iron  ; 
but  the  inhabitants  are  almost  wholly  farmers. 
The  lands,  here  and  in  Salisbury,  are  excellent 
wheat-lands ;  and  the  same  description  is  appli- 
cable to  a  whole  stripe  of  land,  stretching  from 
Sharon  to  Hudson's  river,  tlirough  a  county  in 
the  territory  of  New  York,  called  Duchess- 
county.  The  favourite  crops  are  wheat,  clover, 
and  timothy,  or  English  grass.  No  anxiety  is 
entertained  concerning  exhausting  crops,  be- 
cause gypsum  or  plaster  of  Paris  is  found  (or  so 
it  is  said)  to  restore  in  all  cases  the  vigour  of 
the  soil,  and  make  up  for  inferior  husbandry. 
This  manure  is  bought  at  Poughkeepsie,  on 
Hudson's  river,  where  it  sells  at  ten  dollars  per 
ton.  The  carriage  to  Sharon  is  valued  at  six 
dollars  ;  the  grinding  at  three,  and  the  spreading 
at  one ;  making  the  whole  expense  equal  to 
about  twenty  dollars  per  ton. 

Gypsum  is  imported  into  the  United  States 
from  Nova  Scotia,  in  British  bottoms  ;  but  it  is 
usually  landed  at  Passamaquoddy,or  some  neigh- 
bouring port  in  the  district  of  Maine,  and  thence' 
carried  to  the  various  markets,  in  vessels  belong- 


232  TttAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

ing  to  the  United  States.  It  is  to  be  observed, 
that  by  the  operation  of  the  embargo,  the  United 
States  have  now  attempted  to  deprive  themselves 
of  this  import,  to  the  great  injury,  as  it  is  repre- 
sented of  their  agriculture  :  "  We  speak  within 
"  compass,"  say  some  of  the  politicians  of  the 
times,  "  when  we  say  that  the  agricultural  in- 
"  terests  of  these  states  are  advanced  to  the 
"  amount  of  five  millions  [of  dollars]  annually, 
"  by  the  use  of  plaster  of  Paris  or  gypsum."* 

A  camp-meeting  had  lately  been  held  in  this 
neighbourhood,  that  is,  in  New  York,  on  the 
limits  of  which  Sharon  abuts;  for,  in  all  this 
part  of  New  England,  such  an  event  would  be 
extraordinary.  A  camp-meeting  is  a  phenome- 
non in  the  moral  world  of  which  I  may  hereafter 
have  occasion  to  say  more  :  at  present,  I  shall 
only  add,  that  I  found  the  conversation  of 
the  people  much  engrossed  by  the  excesses  which 
they  had  witnessed  at  this  exhibition  of  fanati- 
cism. The  inhabitants  of  Sharon  are  in  part 
congregationalists,  and  in  part  anabaptists. 

The  burial-ground  of  Sharon,  which  is  at  the 
same  time  an  orchard,  is  large,  and  is  distinguish- 
ed by  several  epitaphs  that  are  written  with  more 
than  the  usual  portion  of  good  sense.  It  lies  on  the 
side  of  a  gentle  eminence,  from  which  there  is  ;i 

*  Balance  and  New  York  State  Journal. 
o 


OF  THE  UNITED  STA  i  233 

pleasing  prospect  of  the  country  called  the 
town  of  Amenta,  in  New  York.  Cornwall, 
which  adjoins  Sharon  on  the  east,  that  is,  which 
lies  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Housatonic,  has 
a  rocky  soil,  though  less  so  than  Hartland.  It 
affords  good  pasture,  and  good  crops  of  wheat. 
It  has  two  hundred  voters,  and  is  attached  to 
the  federal  politics. 

From  Sharon,  I  proposed  going  to  Litchfield; 
but  I  went  a  little  out  of  the  road,  for  the  purpose 
of  seeing  the  Falls  of  the  Housatonic,  which  I 
had  left  to  the  eastward,  in  descending  into 
Sharon. 

Where  the  river  begins  to  fall  over  the  rocky 
ledges,  its  width  was  at  this  time  about  fifty  yards. 
The  cataract  is  composed  of  a  succession  of 
falls,  the  water  tumbling  from  the  rocks  with 
the  greatest  picturesque  beauty.  The  total  de- 
scent may  be  about  sixty  feet ;  but  the  height 
of  no  particular  fall  exceeded,  at  the  time  of  my 
visit,  twelve  or  fifteen  feet ;  nor  was  the  breadth 
of  any  one  of  the  falls  equal  to  the  breadth  of 
the  stream.  At  seasons  when  there  is  more 
water  in  the  river,  the  whole  stream  may  pass 
from  the  summit  in  its  entire  breadth ;  but,  at 
the  same  time,  the  height  of  the  falls  must  be 
lessened.* 

*  The  river  is  usually  described  as  falling,   at   this 
place,  "about   sixty   feet    perpendicular,   in  a  perfect 
"  white  sheet — in  one  entire   white  sheet." 
VOL.  I.  G 


234        TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  ke. 

The  Housatonic  rises  in  Massachusetts,  not 
many  miles  to  the  northward  of  Salisbury  and 
Canaan,  in  Connecticut,  and  falls  into  the  sea  in 
Long- island  Sound,  near  the  town  of  Stratford.  Its 
name  is  sometimes  written  Hooestennuc  and 
Hoosootoonoke,  according  to  the  ear  or  fancy  of 
the  writer,  in  his  attempt  to  imitate  the  Indian 
pronunciation.  Dr.  Morse  informs  us,  that  the 
signification  of  the  word  is  over  the  mountain; 
but,  if  this  be  so,  I  presume  that  the  word  is  a  con- 
traction of  a  whole  phrase ;  for  Wadjhusutun- 
nuc  may  mean  at  the  river  over  or  beyond  the 
mountain.  Wadjhu  or  Wadzu  denotes  a  par- 
ticular description  of  mountain  ;  and  the  con- 
traction, in  composition,  of  Wadjhu,  into  hu 
or  hoo,  is  after  the  Indian  manner. 

The  fall  of  water  is  employed  in  working  the 
machinery  of  two  or  three  forges  and  mills ;  and 
at  the  foot  of  the  cataract  is  a  bridge.  Below 
the  bridge,  the  stream  recovers  its  tranquillity, 
and  winds  beneath  banks  of  green-sward,  shaded 
by  white  pine-trees  of  an  ample  growth.  The 
landscape  round  is  mountainous. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Connecticut —  Goshen — Litchfield. 

FROM  the  Falls  of  the  Housatonic  there  is 
a  good  road,  leading  over  Canaan  Mountain. 
In  the  lowlands  are  some  marshy  tracts  ;  but, 
here,  a  sufficient,  though  not  very  agreeable 
road,  is  formed  by  causeys  of  logs ;  or,  in  the 
language  of  the  country,  it  is  bridged. 

Canaan  Mountain,  and  the  hills  about  it, 
exhibit  only  the  beginnings  of  the  operations  of 
the  settler.  The  bark  of  a  tree  being  cut  round, 
its  whole  circumference,  the  tree  dies.  This 
operation  is  called  girdling.  When  the  trees, 
having  been  girdled,  are  dead,  and  become  dry, 
fire  is  spread  among  them.  The  effects  of  the 
fire  are  irregular.  Here,  it  nearly  devours  a 
whole  tree  ;  or,  consuming  that  part  of  the  trunk 
which  is  nearest  the  ground,  it  occasions  the 
upper  part,  with  all  its  branches,  to  fall,  in  head- 
long ruin.  Here,  it  only  scorches  different  parts 
of  the  tree  ;  and  there,  it  devours  the  heart, 
leaving  the  rest  hollow,  blackened,  and  apparent- 
ly always  ready  to  fall.  Meanwhile,  the  bark 
decays,  and  tumbles  to  the  ground;  and  the 


236         TRAVELS  THROUGH  FART 

wood  beneath,  exposed  to  the  injuries  of  the 
atmosphere,  acquires  a  gray  colour.  It  is  under 
this  aspect  that  the  new  farms  present  them- 
selves, even  for  many  years  after  the  beginning 
of  their  cultivation.  Skeletons  of  trees  lift 
all  around  their  desolate  and  naked  arms ;  and, 
barren,  burnt  and  dismembered  as  they  are,  the 
imagination  attributes  their  state  only  to  the 
scathe  of  heaven. 

The  south  society  of  Canaan  adjoins  the  town 
of  Cornwall,  through  a  corner  of  which  the  road 
leads  to  Goshen.  In  the  manufacture  of  cheese, 
the  west  side  of  the  Connecticut  boasts  of  that 
of  Goshen,  as  the  east  boasts  of  that  of  Stoning- 
ton.  Goshen  contains  many  large  farms,  and 
substantial  farmers,  devoted  to  dairying  :  to 
speak  more  definitely  of  the  extent  of  the 
farms  in  this  town,  it  is  to  be  added,  that 
they  are  usually  of  from  one  to  four  hun- 
dred acres.  The  road  to  Hudson  and  Cats- 
kill  lies  through  Goshen,  where  it  was  cut 
about  eight  years  ago.  Goshen  has  only  one 
meeting-house,  which  is  forty  years  old  ;  but 
to  which  a  tower  and  steeple  have  been  added 
within  these  six  years  :  the  edifice  is  entirely  of 
wood.  Goshen  has  ten  or  twelve  schools,  and 
six  or  seven  paupers.  It  raises  but  little  wheat. 

From  the  church  or  meeting-house,  in  Go- 
shen, to  the  Town  Hill  in  Litchfield,  is  a  dis- 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  237 

tance  of  only  five  miles  and  a  half.     I  reached 
this  place  on  the  evening  of  the  eighth  of  June. 

Litchfield  is  the  county  -town  of  the  county  of 
Litchfield,  and  contains  four  societies  or  pa- 
rishes, severally  denominated  the  Town  Hill, 
Northfield,  South  Farms  and  Milton.  The  num- 
ber of  inhabitants,  in  the  year  1800,  was  4,215. 
Within  the  four  societies  there  are  thirty 
common  or  district  schools.  The  total  amount 
of  town-taxes,  for  the  year,  is  fourteen  hun- 
dred dollars.  Twenty  paupers  are  wholly  main- 
tained, and  six  or  eight  more  are  assisted ;  and 
of  this  part  of  the  expenditure  the  amount  is 
eight  hundred  dollars.  The  salary  of  the  cler- 
gyman of  the  Town  Hill  society,  together  with 
the  incidental  expenses  of  the  meeting-house, 
are  also  eight  hundred  dollars.  The  whole  of  the 
taxes  paid  in  this  society,  the  county-taxes  cx- 
cepted,  are  enumerated  as  follows  : 

1.  A  state-tax  of  seven  mills,  or  seven  thou- 
sandth parts  of  a  dollar,   on  every  dollar  in  the 
town-list  of  ratable  property. 

2.  A  town-tax  of  two  cents  and  eight  mills 
on  every  dollar  in  the  town-list ;  and, 

3.  A   society -tax    of   two  cents    on    every 
dollar. 

The  town  list  amounts  to  94,804  dollars. 
On  this  sum,  a  tax  of  seven  mills  per  dollar 
amounts  to  nearly  665  dollars. 


238         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

On  the  same  sum,  a  further  tax,  of  two  cents 
and  eight  mills  per  dollar,  amounts  to  2,656 
dollars. 

On  the  same  sum,  a  further  tax,  of  two  cents 
per  dollar,  amounts  to  1,896  dollars.  The 
three  sums  added  together,  produce  the  total 
sum  of  5,217  dollars. 

The  number  of  inhabitants  in  the  town,  in  the 
year  1800,  was  4,215.  Taking  the  present 
number  at  5 ,000,  and  dividing  the  amount  of 
the  taxes  by  the  number  of  inhabitants,  the 
average  amount  of  taxes  per  head  will  be  about 
one  dollar  and  fifty  cents.  But,  if  we  reduce  the 
number  of  inhabitants,  by  throwing  out  those  who 
contribute  only  in  a  very  small  proportion,  the 
amount  paid  by  the  remainder  will  of  course 
be  considerably  increased. 

This  calculation,  which  is  exceedingly  loose, 
as  it  respects  the  town  of  Litchfield,  may  be 
sufficiently  strict,  as  it  respects  the  average  of 
the  several  towns  of  the  state  ;  and  it  therefore 
puts  us  into  possession  of  the  average  amount  of 
the  taxes  paid  by  each  inhabitant,  and  by  the 
whole.  If  we  make  our  estimate  by  the  property, 
rather  than  by  the  polls,  the  amount  of  state,  town 
and  society -taxes,  will  be  about  six  dollars  upon 
each  rated  thousand. 

The  whole  of  Litchfield  is  hilly  ;  but  the  hill, 
which  is  the  seat  of  the  Town  Hill  Society,  is 
called,  as  may  be  inferred,  the  Town  Hill.  In  the 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.         239 

south-west  corner  of  the  town  is  a  hill  or  moun- 
tain, called  Mount  Tom. 

The  Town  Hill  descends  on  every  side,  dis- 
covering fine  prospects  of  the  verdant  country 
below.  In  the  vale,  to  the  north-west,  is  a  small 
river,  called  Bantam-river.  The  hill  abounds  in 
springs  and  hence  the  summer  mornings  are 
often  foggy  and  sultry  ;  but  a  refreshing  breeze 
usually  rises  at  noon. 

The  church  or  meeting-house  is  a  handsome 
wooden  building,  placed  in  the  centre  of  the 
little  plain  that  is  on  the  top  of  the  hill.  On  one- 
side  of  the  plain  is  the  county-court  house,  of 
more  modern  architecture,  but  differing  in 
nothing,  in  its  exterior,  from  the  ordinary  ex- 
terior of  a  meeting-house.  The  dwelling-houses 
are  not  a  hundred  in  number,  but  many  of  them 
are  very  respectably  inhabited.  Litchfield  is  the 
family  residence  of  Mr.  Oliver  Wolcott,  for- 
merly secretary  at  war,  for  the  United  States ; 
and  it  is  also  the  residence  of  Mr.  Tapping 
Reeve,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  superior  court 
of  Connecticut ;  and  of  some  other  persons, 
justly  distinguished  by  the  public. 

As  a  county-town,  Litchfield,  like  all  others 
of  the  same  description,  is  the  residence  of 
several  practising  attorneys ;  but  it  is  also  in  a 
particular  manner  a  seat  of  legal  study,  in  con 


240         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

sequence  of  the  courses  of  lectures  delivered  by 
Judge  Reeve  and  Mr.  Gould,  to  a  circle  of 
students.  The  reading  and  talents  of  both  those 
gentlemen  are  in  so  much  esteem,  that  several 
of  the  pupils  that  attend  them,  come  even  from 
North  and  South  Carolina.  Among  these,  I 
had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  more  than  one,  of 
whom  the  manners  and  the  endowments  appear- 
ed alike  to  entitle  them  to  esteem. 

Mr.  Gould  wras  not  in  Litchfield  at  this  time; 
but  I  had  the  satisfaction  of  attending  one  of 
the  lectures  of  Judge  Reeve.  It  was  delivered 
in  a  small  building,  adjoining  his  front  garden, 
and  with  the  door  open  to  the  public  foot- way. 

To  Mr.  Aaron  Burr  Reeve,  the  son  of  the 
judge,  and  a  nephew  of  Colonel  Burr,  I  am  in- 
debted for  several  instances  of  attention,  during 
my  stay  in  Litchfield ;  and,  among  others,  for 
having  led  me  to  a  little  village  ball.  The  ball 
was  held  in  an  open  part  of  the  court-house, 
without  the  bar ;  and,  what  will  probably  be 
thought,  in  a  striking  manner  to  evince,  if 
nothing  more,  at  least  the  equal  condition  upon 
which  all  the  members  of  society  are  placed, 
is  the  reason  that  was  assigned  for  a  thinner 
attendance  than  had  been  expected. — The  as- 
semblage consisted  of  the  younger  members  of 
the  most  respectable  inhabitants  of  the  place ; 
and,  at  the  same  time,  many  that  had  been  in- 
2 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.         241 

vited  were  kept  away,  by  their  consideration  for 
the  gaoler's  wife,  who  was  said  to  be  lying  dan- 
gerously ill. 

Among  the  amusements  of  the  young  people 
are  little  rural  parties,  held  on  the  islands  of 
Bantam-river.  There  is  in  Litchfield  a  re- 
spectable school  for  young  ladies. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

Connecticut — Kent — Inscriptions. 

A  FEW  miles  to  the  west  of  Litchfield,  is 
Kent,  a  town  on  the  boundary,  and  of  which 
the  settlement  was  begun  in  the  year  1740.  Its 
limits  then  included  the  modern  town  of 
Washington. 

In  Washington,  on  the  Shippaug,  a  riverwhich 
falls  into  the  Housatonic,  is  a  tract  of  land,  still 
reserved  to  the  use  of  a  few  families  of  Indians, 
and  known  by  the  name  of  Scaticook.  On1  the 
Hosac,  a  small  river  that  falls  into  Hudson's 
river  from  the  east,  is  a  place  called  Schactecoke 
and  Scaghticoke ;  and  these  words,  together 
with  Scaticoak,  are  apparently  of  the  same  ori- 
ginal with  Piscataqua,  the  name  of  a  river  in 
New  Hampshire.  Pscatiquoke,  Pscatiqueag 
or  Pscatiguiah,  implies,  in  the  language  of  the 
Indians  of  the  country,  the  banks  at  the  conflu- 
VQL.  i.  H  h 


242  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

ence  of  two  streams,  or  where  two  channels  arc 
divergent ;  in  other  words,  what  is  sometimes 
popularly  called  zfork.  This  description  I  sup- 
pose to  be  applicable  to  Scaticook,  in  Kent,  as 
it  strictly  is  to  Schacticoke,  on  the  Hosac.  Sca- 
ticook was  formerly  understood  to  comprise 
lands  on  both  sides  of  the  river ;  but  its  limits 
are  now  reduced. 

It  was  not  convenient  for  me  to  visit  this 
place,  a  circumstance  which  I  have  perhaps  the 
more  reason  to  regret,  on  account  of  an  Indian 
inscription  which  is  extant,  as  it  is  said,  upon 
one  of  the  rocks.  Since  I  left  Connecticut,  I  have 
seen,  however,  more  than  one  Indian  inscription, 
as  hereafter  I  shall  have  occasion  to  relate  ;  and  I 
am  not  led  to  believe  that  there  is,  in  the  in- 
scription at  Scaticook,  any  thing  peculiar  or  ex- 
traordinary. The  fact  of  its  existence  is  proba- 
bly alone  of  any  importance  ;  a  fact  which  adds 
to  the  number  of  instances  in  which  these  in- 
scriptions are  found.  The  only  intimation, 
that  I  have  received  of  it,  is  from  the  manuscripts 
of  the  late  Dr.  Ezra  Stiles,  formerly  president  of 
Yale  College,  in  this  state ;  and  wherein  it  ap- 
pears to  consist  but  of  a  very  few  and  trifling 
sculptures. 

From  the  same  source,  and  from  no  other,  I  have 
also  learned,  that  there  are  some  Hebrew  words, 
engraved  on  another  rock,  in  a  town  on  the 
south-west  of  Litchfield,  and  which  was  formerly 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  «        243 

a  part  of  Kent.  A  strong  disposition  to  discover, 
in  the  aborigines  of  North  America,  an  Hebraic, 
and  even  Judaic  origin,  has  long  existed  among 
some  portion  of  the  learned ;  and  indeed  this 
theory  alone  seems  to  have  engrossed,  for  many 
years,  the  attention  of  the  few  persons,  among 
the  English  colonists,  who  have  been  curious  in 
their  regard ;  but  Dr.  Stiles,  though,  among 
his  countrymen,  he  has  some  reputation  for  cre- 
dulity, appears  at  least  to  have  escaped  this 
snare ;  and,  in  the  instance  of  the  Washington 
Inscription,  is  content  to  trace  to  a  very  humble 
source,  even  the  existence  of  real  Hebrew  cha- 
racters. 

The  rock  which  bears  the  inscription  is  an  in- 
sulated mass  of  stone,  composed,  according 
to  the  manuscript,  of  white  flint.  It  stands 
amid  a  forest,  on  the  summit  of  Cobble 
Hill,  which  rises  opposite  to  the  modern  Scati- 
cook,  and  was  included  in  the  ancient,  and  is 
about  a  mile  long,  and  eighty  or  a  hundred 
rods  in  breadth.  Dr.  Stiles,  in  some  places, 
calls  the  hill,  Hebrew-pinnacle  Hill,  and  the  spot 
on  which  the  stone  is  found,  the  Hebrew  Pinna- 
cle. The  pinnacle  is  distant  six  miles  from 
Litchfield  church  or  meeting-house,  and  is  only 
two  miles  to  the  north  of  the  parish  of  New 
Preston. 

The  rock  lies  north  and  south,  and  measures 
fourteen   feet  in  length,  and  eight  or   ten  in 


244   *     TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

width,  both  at  the  base  and  at  the  top ;  the  sides 
being  more  or  less  perpendicular,  and  smooth 
faced.  Its  height  from  the  ground  is  six  feet  at 
the  north  end,  and  five  at  the  south ;  and  there 
'are  characters  engraved  on  all  its  parts :  the 
Hebrew  inscription  is  on  its  horizontal  summit. 
The  inscription  appears  to  comprise  but  a  few 
words  :  "  Two,"  says  the  manuscript,  "  contain- 
"  ing  the  names  Adam  and  Abraham,  are  ob- 
"  vious  ;  the  other  two  are  unintelligible."  It  is 
added,  that  a  gentleman  of  the  Jewish  nation 
thought  them  chronological :  he  probably  was 
shown  only  a  copy. 

Though  the  hill  is  said  to  be  called  the  Hebrew 
Pinnacle,  or  the  Hebrew-pinnacle  Hill,  yet  the 
manuscript  also  says,  that  the  rock  is  "  very  little 
"  known,  even  in  the  neighbourhood."  The 
following  account  is  then  given  of  the  first  dis- 
covery. 

-About  the  year  1760,  an  old  woman  showed 
to  some  certain  persons  a  written  paper,  in  which 
was  contained  an  account,  that  at  a  rock  -with 
writing  on  it,  situate  near  her  place  of  resi- 
dence, money  was  buried.  These  persons,  in 
consequence,  spent  several  years  in  diggingtofind 
the  money,  a  task  from  which  they  desisted  on- 
ly in  the  year  1774.  At  first,  they  concealed 
their  information  with  views  of  gain,  and  after- 
ward, through  shame ;  and  whence  the  woman 
derived  the  paper,  has  always  remained  a  secret. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  245 

Dr.  Stiles  doubts  the  truth  of  one  part  of  the 
tradition,  which  imports,  that  some  pieces  of 
the  rock  were  broken  away  by  the  adventurers, 
and  sent  to  New  York  and  elsewhere,"to  be  decy- 
phered.  The  doctor  also  appears  to  place  no 
confidence  in  the  date  assigned  to  the  discovery. 
The  Indians,  at  Scaticook,  have  been  asked  in 
vain  for  information  upon  the  subject. 

Kent,  within  the  limits  of  which  Washington 
formerly  was,  was  begun  to  be  settled  in  1740 ; 
and  there  were  Moravian  missionaries  at  Scati- 
cook, as  early  as  1750,  and  till  1770 ;  but  the  doc- 
tor tells  us,  that  the  inscription  was  not  publicly 
heard  of  till  1780;  and  adds  that,  "  indeed,  I 
"  believe  it  was  very  new  in  1780." 

The  characters,  that  are  not  Hebrew,  ap- 
pear, from  the  MS,  to  be  Roman  ;  as  B  H, 
which,  it  is  suggested,  may  be  no  other  than  the 
initials  of  Barnabas  Hatch,  a  settler  that  lived 
within  a  hundred  rods  of  the  rock,  in  the 
year  1741.  In  another  place  are  the  characters 
I  H  O  W,  followed  by  additional  ones  that  are 
defaced. 

Though  Dr.  Stiles  believes  that  the  Hebrew 
inscription  was  very  new  in  1780,  he  yet  disbe- 
lieves, what  is  now  asserted  by  some,  that  it 
was  engraved  by  a  party  of  French  officers,  be- 
longing to  M.  de  Rochambeau's  army  ;  of  whom 
it  is  said,  that  they  paid  a  visit  to  the  pinnacle, 


246  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  &c. 

on  a  party  of  pleasure.  In  conclusion,  the  doc- 
tor furnishes  us  with  a  very  probable  clew  to 
the  mystery : 

"  There  has  prevailed,  for  these  fifty  years 
"  past,  a  strong  conceit,  that  the  western  parts  of 
"  Connecticut  abounded  with  mines  of  the  pre- 
"  cious  metals.  The  mountains  of  New  Milford, 
"  Kent  and  Cornwall,  have  been  much  searched 
"  for  this  end.  Two  or  three  gentlemen  of  the 
"Jewish  nation,  at  New  York,  have,  for  many 
"  years  past,  been  owners  of,  and  concerned  in 
"  working  a  mine  at  New  Milford,  'six  or  eight 
"  miles  distant  from  this  inscription,  on  the 
"  Hebrew  pinnacle  mountain.  A  Jew,  skilled  in 
"  mineralogy,  from  Germany,  has  been  conver- 
"  sant  among  these  mountains.  I  have  rather 
"  imagined,  a  Jew,  Mr.  Moses,  might  have  en- 
"  graved  this  inscription ;  as  he  resided  at  Corn- 
"  wall,  adjoining  it,  half  a  year,  between  1766 
"  and  1770,  and  spent  his  time  in  examining 
"  and  searching  for  mines,  in  Cornwall,  Kent 
"  and  New  Milford.  He  professed  the  art  of 
"  refining  metals.  I  thus  have  no  doubt  that 
"  this  inscription  is  to  be  ascribed  to  some  of 
"  these  Jews,  and  that  it  was  probably  made 
"  since  the  year  1760."* 

*  MS  of  the  late  Reverend  Ezra  Stiles,  D.  D.  and 
president  of  Yale  College,  reposited  in  the  library  of  the 
Historical  Society  of  Massachusetts, 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Connecticut —  Woodbridge — Newhaven. 

LITCHFIELD  is  distant  thirteen  miles  and  a 
half  from  Salisbury,  and  thirty -six  from  Newha- 
ven. The  Town  Hill,  though  not  remarkably 
raised  above  the  surrounding  country,  is  said  to 
be  very  much  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  Whe- 
ther this  be  so  great  as  is  contended  for,  or 
whether  the  cold  wet  soil  with  which  the  hill  is 
covered  may  not  be  assigned,  in  part,  as  the 
cause  of  a  backward  vegetation,  I  shall  not 
pretend  to  decide ;  but  of  the  reality  of  the 
backwardness,  I  saw  singular  proofs.  The 
planting  or  sowing  of  maize,  exclusively  called 
corn,  was  just  accomplished  on  the  Town  Hill, 
when  I  reached  it.  Two  days  afterward,  in 
Waterbury,  which  is  the  town  immediately  be- 
low, I  learned  that  the  planting  of  the  same  ve- 
getable had  there  been  completed  more  than  a 
week  before.  On  the  same  day,  in  Waterbury, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Naugatuc,  it  was  above 
ground,  and  in  some  places  the  inhabitants 
were  at  work  at  the  first  hoeing ;  and,  within  a 
few  hours  I  saw  it,  in  Newhaven,  more  than 
a  foot  high.  The  Town  Hill  is  said  to  be 


248         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

in  north  latitude,  41°  46'  and  west  longitude 
73°  77'. 

The  county  of  Litchfield,  besides  possessing 
line  pastures,  raises  much  wheat  and  maize. 
In  the  town,  in  addition  to  the  water  of  several 
fertilizing  streams,  is  a  small  lake  or  pool,  called 
the  great  pond.  The  bogs  yield  iron-ore ;  and 
there  are  iron- works,  an"  oil-mill,  several  saw- 
mills and  grist-mills. 

Wateitown,  Waterbury  and  Woodbridge,  the 
towns  through  which  I  passed,  between  Litch- 
field and  Newhaven,  are  all   watered   by  the 
Naugatuc,  otherwise  called  Waterbury-river,  a 
river  which  falls  into  the  Housatonic.     Of  both 
these  streams  the  channels  are  rocky  and  roman- 
tifc,  and  the  cataracts   and   other  interruptions 
frequent.     Of  both,  the  banks  abound  in  iron- 
ore  ;  and  on  both,  are  numerous  iron-works,  and 
in  the  town  very  numerous  mills.     The  Nauga- 
tuc rises  in  Torringford,    or  perhaps  nearer  to 
Colebrook,    on   the    west  side  of  the  Turkey 
Mountains,  and  among  several  small  lakes,  which 
are  numerous  in  the  hollows.     In  Goshen,  is  a 
lake  called  Massapog  Pond,  and  another,  called 
Pauge  Pond.     Massapog  is  apparently  formed 
of  rnassa  or  missi  piag  or  peag — at  the  banks  of 
a  large  pool ;  and  Pauge  is  piag — at  the  banks 
of  the  pool — or  of  the  water.     In  the  same  town, 
one  of  the  streams  that  are  tributary  to  the  Nauga- 
1 


OF  THE  UXITEI)  STATES.  £49 

tuc,  has  the  English  name  of  Witch-river,  for 
what  reason  I  am  not  informed.  In  Water- 
town,  a  little  below  the  church  belonging  to  the 
church  of  England,  the  Naugatuc  receives  the 
Moosum,  a  name  probably  from  mom  or  moose, 
the  elk. 

Waterbury  is  said  to  have  been  called  by  the 
Indians  Matteluck  ;  perhaps  Mattetuc  or  Mata- 
tuc :  Matatig',  mata  tiguiah,  at  the  banks  of  a 
s/iallow  river. 

As  the  road  approaches  Newhaven,  it  is  car- 
ried along  the  east  side  of  the  basaltic  rock  that 
composes  the  Western  Range,  and  which 
terminates  in  a  bluff-head  behind  the  city, 
called  West  Rock.  It  is  the  West  and  East 
Rocks,  red,  as  before  described,  with  the  oxyd 
of  iron,  and  seen  conspicuous  in  the  offing,  that 
once  procured  for  the  site  of  Newhaven,  the 
names  of  Red  Mounte  and  Red  Hills.  At  the 
feet  of  the  rocks,  and  between  them,  is  a 
broad  plain  or  meadow,  watered  by  two  small 
rivers.  On  this  meadow,  which  embraces  the 
harbour  of  Newhaven,  is  seated  the  city. 

Newhaven,  of  which  it  has  already  been 
observed,  that  it  was  the  capital  of  the  colony  oi 
the  same  name,  so  long  as  that  colony  remained 
separate  from  the  colony  of  Connecticut,  is 
still  a  town  of  importance  in  this  state,  not  only 
for  its  commerce,  and  for  the  alternate-  sessions 

VOL.   i.  r  i 


250         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

of  the  legislature  which  are  held  in  it,  but  as 
being  the  seat  of  its  university.  It  is  also  the 
county-town  of  the  county  of  Newhaven.  Its 
population,  in  the  year  1800,  was  5,157  in  num- 
ber, including  slaves.  The  value  of  the  imports 
of  the  district,  for  the  year  1794,  amounted  to 
171,868  dollars.  The  trade  is  with  New  York, 
and  with  die  West  Indies.  The  city  was  incor- 
porated in  the  year  1784. 

Newhaven  has  many  handsome  buildings, 
public  and  private.  Several  private  dwelling- 
houses,  built  of  wood,  are  of  a  very  elegant 
architecture,  the  introduction  of  the  taste  for 
which,  into  Newhaven  and  Hartford,  is  ascrib- 
ed to  an  English  builder,  of  the  name  of 
Barmer. 

The  city  was  originally  laid  out  in  squares,  of 
which  a  large  one,  near  the  centre,  is  open,  and 
contains  the  public  buildings.  On  the  west  side  is 
Yale  College  ;  on  the  east,  the  county-gaol;  and  in 
the  middle  are  the  old  state-house,  and  a  church 
and  burial  ground,  surrounded  by  a  spacious 
green.  The  green  is  fenced  with  a  substantial 
white  railing,  and  shaded  with  some  ancient 
elms,  of  a  most  beautiful  species,  (ulmus  Ameri- 
cana.} The  state-house  and  church  are  of 
brick,  as  are  also  the  buildings  of  Yale  College. 
The  county-gaol,  is  of  stone. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  251 

Besides  the  college  chapel,  there  are  in  New- 
haven  three  congregational  churches,  and  one 
English  church. 

The  city  has  several  streets,  many  of  which 
are  ornamented  with  trees.  They  are  all  unpaved ; 
but  the  soil  is  sandy,  and  they  are  therefore  clean. 
A  pier  of  great  length  projects  into  the  harbour,  on 
which  is  a  row  of  roomy  warehouses  of  brick. 
The  distance,  from  the  pier  to  the  mouth  of 
the  harbour,  in  Long- island  Sound,  is  four  miles. 
The  number  of  houses  in  the  city  is  said  to 
be  about  six  hundred. 

A  few  years  ago,  much  attention  was  paid  in 
Newhaven,  and  its  vicinity,  to  the  raising  of 
silkworms,  and  manufacture  of  silk  ;  and  many 
of  the  female  members  of  the  community  are  in 
possession  of  silk  gowns,  spun  and  woven  by 
themselves,  from  silk  produced  under  their  care. 
This,  however,  has  been  the  limit  of  the  suc- 
cess obtained ;  and  the  pursuit  is  now  wholly 
abandoned. 

[At  the  distance  of  a  short  ride  out  of  the  city, 
on  the  Mill-river,  are  the  works  of  Mr.  Eli 
Whitney,  a  machinist  of  very  extraordinary 
ingenuity.  Mr.  Whitney  has  invented  a  machine 
for  separating  the  seeds  of  the  cotton-plant,  from 
the  cotton  by  which  they  are  enveloped  in  the 
pod.  From  the  manner  in  which  the  cotton  ad' 
heres,  the  possibility  of  such  a  contrivance  had 


052  TRAVELS  THROUGH  I'AJtT 

remained  long  in  doubt;  but  Mr.  Whitney  has 
entirely  satisfied  the  wishes  of  the  cotton-planter, 
and  the  value  of  estates  in  the  cotton- coun- 
tries has  been  greatly  increased  by  this  effort  of 
his  genius. 

Mr.  Whitney  has  applied  machinery  to  the 
entire  manufacture  of  fire  arms,  of  which  he  is 
at  present  making  a  large  quantity  for  the  United 
States.*  For  every  part  of  the  musket  he  has  a 
mould ;  and  there  is  said  to  be  so  much  exacti- 
tude in  the  finishing,  that  every  part  of  any 
one  musket  may  be  adapted  to  all  the 
parts  of  any  otherTJ  Card-teeth,  cotton-thread, 
paper,  and  some  other  articles  are  also  manufac- 
tured in  Newhaven. 

A  bank  was  incorporated  here  in  1792,  of 
which  the  capital  stock  is  fixed  at  50,000  dol- 
lars.* In  this,  as  in  every  other  commercial 
place  in  the  United  States,  there  is  at  least  one 
marine  insurance  company.  The  stock  of  these 
companies  is  of  the  most  profitable  description, 

*  It  should  have  been  mentioned  (Chap,  viii.)  that 
there  is  a  bank  in  Middletown,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
100,000  dollars.  That  city,  with  the  county  of  Mid- 
dlesex, also  support  one  newspaper,  called  the  Middlesex 
Gazette,  of  which  the  politics  is  federal.  The  popula- 
tion of  the  town  of  Middletown,  in  the  year  1800, 
amounted  to  5,001  souls,  Dr,  Morse  inadvertently  as. 
tribes,  to  the  «Vy,  the  population,  of  the.  town, 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.         253 

The  average  amount  of  the  several  dividends, 
made  on  the  insurance  in  each  year,  since  the 
year  1790,  is  said  to  have  exceeded  a  hundred 
per  cent. 

Two  newspapers  are  published  weekly  in 
Newhaven,  of  which  both  are  supports  of 
the  federal  party. 

Newhaven  has  not  wholly  escaped  the  rava- 
ges of  the  malignant  fever,  commonly  called 
yellow  fever ;  but  its  general  salubrity  is  said 
to  be  remarkable.  The  average  number  of  deaths 
is  represented  as  not  exceeding  one  in  seventy.  It 
is  observed  that  all  parts  of  New  England,  and 
particularly  of  the  countries  lying  on  the  Con- 
necticut, are  subject  to  inflammatory  diseases, 
that  from  time  to  time  make  their  appearance, 
and  occasion  a  sudden  and  alarming  mortality. 
Their  duration,  however,  is  short. 

In  describing  Newhaven,  it  would  be  un- 
pardonable to  forget  to  mention  the  New  Bury- 
ing-round.  This  is  a  square  plot,  of  large 
extent,  divided,  by  smooth  walks,  into  small 
squares.  These  squares  are  again  divided  by 
railings  into  still  smaller  squares,  and  these 
again  into  squares  so  minute  as  to  be  reasona- 
bly occupied  by  two  families;  for  the  square 
not  being  lost  sight  of  for  a  moment,  and  the 
smallest  square  being  too  large  for  the  general i 


254         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

ty  of  families,  no  choice  is  left  but  to  divide  this 
smallest  square  into  half  squares.  This  last  di- 
vision, however,  must  be  so  effected  as  not  to  de- 
stroy the  uniform  appearance  of  the  squares. 
The  squares  are  bordered  by  trees,  which, 
unfortunately,  are  not  square  also ;  but  which, 
being  Lombardy-poplars,  have  promised  to 
grow  with  the  least  irregularity  possible. 
There  are,  however,  in  the  centres  of  some  of 
the  squares,  a  few  weeping  willows,  from  which 
quite  so  much  cannot  be  hoped.  Meanwhile,  eve- 
ry grave  dug  is  in  the  same  direction,  and  every 
square  is  of  the  same  dimensions.  The  ground 
is  level,  the  walks  rolled,  the  grass  smooth,  and 
the  rails  are  duly  painted,  white  and  black. 

The  squares,  or  half  squares,  are  so  many 
freeholds ;  and  the  names  of  the  several  free- 
holders are  painted  on  the  railings.  Hence,  the 
names,  both  of  the  living  and  the  dead,  are  to 
be  seen  together.  One  inscription  relates,  that 
the  deceased  person,  of  whom  it  is  the  memo- 
rial, was  fifty-four  years  clerk  of  the  town  of 
Newhavcri)  and  fifty-four  years  clerk  of  the 
house  of  representatives. 

The  flourishing  aspect  of  Newhaven  has 
now  been  intimated  under  several  features,  and 
particularly  in  its  modern  buildings.  It  is  as- 
serted, however,  by  some,  that  the  prosperity 
of  the  city  is  not  to  be  estimated  by  the  very 


4)F  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

specious  appearance  made  by  its  dwellings,  in 
spite  of  the  frailty  of  their  materials.  The  in- 
habitants, according  to  them,  have  "  overbuilt 
"  themselves." 

To  arrive  at  the  full  meaning  of  this  phrase, 
the  reader  must  be  informed,  that  of  almost 
ever)-  considerable  advance  in  the  United  States, 
the  commencement  is  dated  at  the  em  of  the 
French  revolution ;  an  event  that,  by  the  con- 
sequent wars,  threw  into  their  hands  a  degree 
of  commercial  prosperity  with  which  they  had 
been  unacquainted  before.  This  commercial 
prosperity  lias  raised  individual  fortunes,  built 
the  cities  and  villages,  thrown  bridges  across 
the  rivers,  and  cut  the  roads  throughout  the 
country.* 

Hoping  and  believing  every  thing,  from  this 
flush  of  wealth  and  fortune,  there  are  those,  who, 
according  to  the  less  sanguine,  proceed  too  far. 
The  United  States,  as  it  is  argued  by  the  latter, 
cannot  hope  for  a  future  progress,  corresponding 
with  that  which  they  have  made  during  the  last 
twenty  years.  The  war  in  Europe  has  be- 
come less  beneficial ;  and  it  is  contended, 
that  a  general  peace  would  reduce  the  trade 
once  more  within  its  former  limits.  In  many 

*  There  was  no  turnpike-road  in  Connecticut  before 
the  year  1791.     See  American  Universal  Geogra/i/iy. 


256  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PAliT 

of  the  maritime  towns,  therefore,  they  think 
that  more  money  has  been  expended,  and 
more  numerous  and  more  costly  buildings 
erected,  than  prudence  would  have  directed  or 
permitted. 

Meanwhile,  Mr.  Hillhouse,  one  of  the  land- 
ed proprietors  of  Newhaven,  discovers  him- 
self to  be  so  little  of  this  opinion,  that  he  has 
projected,  and  in  part  commenced,  the  building 
of  a  new  and  entire  city,  in  the  immediate  rear 
of  the  old  one.  He  builds  his  houses  of  stone,  in 
a  very  solid  and  costly  manner ;  and  has  marked 
out  the  area  of  a  spacious  square,  in  which  are  to 
be  ornamental  plantations.  The  ground  that 
is  contained  within  this  area,  he  proposes  giving 
to  the  public,  upon  the  sole  condition,  that  the 
building-lots  shall  be  purchased,  and  that  the 
plantations  shall  be  subject  to  his  immediate  will, 
during  the  whole  term  of  his  life.  Newhaven  is 
indebted  to  Mr.  Hillhouse  for  several  embel- 
lishments, and  for  the  plan  of  the  New  Burying- 
ground. 

Nor  is  it  to  merchants  and  landholders  alone, 
that  Newhaven  owes,  -all  the  accumulation  of 
her  buildings.  Of  a  part  of  the  warehouses 
on  the  pier,  the  erection  is  said  to  have  been 
occasioned  by  a  remarkable  instance  of  mental 
delusion.  A  Mr.  David  Austin,  a  clergyman, 
and  a  native  of  this  place,  took  it  into  his  head, 
toward  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century,  that 


Oi-   THE  UNITED  STATES.  257 

the  Millenium  was  at  hand,  that  the  Jews  were 
to  be  gathered  together  and  restored,  and  that 
the>r  were  to  be  established  in  his  native  city. 
It  is  pretended,  that  the  warehouses  which  Mr. 
Austin  prevailed  upon  his  father  to  build,  were 
intended  to  meet  the  increased  trade  of  the  city, 
under  circumstances  so  auspicious  ;  and  that  the 
seer  actually  caused  "  four  and  twenty  long  white 
"  hum-hum  garments"  to  be  prepared  for  the 
four  and  twenty  elders  who  were  to  attend  du- 
ne w  comers  in  Newhaven.  Many  other  vi- 
sions of  the  same  individual  are  on  record,  part- 
ly in  the  writings  of  others,  and  partly  in  wri- 
tings of  his  own.  Jocular  allusions  to  the  Mil- 
lenium are  hence  become  common  in  Connec- 
ticut, and  to  these  allusions  belong  the  history  of 
Mr.  Austin,  the  Jews,  the  warehouses  at  New- 
haven,  the  white  garments  and  the  elders. 


VOL.  i.  K  k 


I 

CHAPTER  XXVIL 

Connecticut — Yale  College. 

THE  principal  college  edifices  are  five  in  num- 
ber, of  which  three  contain  the  chambers  of  the 
students.  Each  of  these  is  four  stones  high,  a  hun- 
dred feet  in  front,  and  forty  in  depth,  and  con- 
tains thirty-two  chambers.  The  number  of  cham- 
bers here,  therefore,  is  ninety-six  ;*  but  it  is  very 
much  the  practice  to  suffer  two  students  to  reside 
in  one  chamber.  Between  the  north  edifice  and 
the  central  one,but  detached  from  both,  is  a  build  - 
ing,  called  the  Connecticut  Lyceum,  with  a  front 
of  about  fifty  feet ;  and  between  the  central  edi- 
fice and  that  on  the  south  is  another,  with  a  front 
of  forty  feet,  also  detached,  and  occupied  as  the 
college  chapel.  All  these  edifices  are  of  brick, 
very  plain  in  their  architecture,  and  in  the  mo- 
dern style.  Further  to  the  north,  is  a  handsome 
dwelling-house  of  wood,  built  by  the  college  for 
the  president.  The  chapel  and  the  lyceum  arc 
not  so  built,  or  placed,  as  to  produce  that  symme- 
try which  the  description  of  them  might  imply. 

*  "  Sufficient  for  1 80  students."  American  Universal 
Geografifiif. 


TRAVELS  THROUr.H  PAUT,  kc.        359 

The  chapel  is  without  ornament,  except  that  it 
is  surmounted  by  a  spire  or  steeple,  of  a  hundred 
and  thirty  feet  in  height.  Besides  the  chapel, 
there  are  other  apartments  under  the  same  roof. 
The  lyceum  is  crowned  with  a  cupola.  Behind 
the  principal  edifices  is  one  more,  comprising  the 
dining-hall  and  kitchen.  The  kitchen  forms  the 
vestibule.  Breakfast  is  laid  without  a  cloth. 

The  lyceum  contains  a  library,  museum,  and 
council-room,  rooms  for  lectures  in  philosophy 
and  chemistry,  and  for  depositing  philosophical 
and  chemical  apparatus. 

The  faculty  and  board  of  management  of  Yale 
College  consist  in  the  president,  professors  and 
tutors.  The  established  professorships  are  five  in 
number ;  including  divinity,  languages  and  ec- 
clesiastical history,  mathematics  and  natural  phi- 
losophy, chemistry  and  law.  The  professor  of 
chemistry  delivers  four  lectures  in  every  week, 
during  the  terms  ;  the  professor  of  mathematics 
and  natural  philosophy,  one  or  two  ;  in  languages 
and  ecclesiastical  history  no  lectures  are  deli- 
vered at  present,  the  professor  being  allowed  time 
'to  prepare  himself;  in  law  no  lectures  are  deli- 
vered at  all ;  and  the  div  inky-lecture,  is  delivered 
on  a  Sunday  morning,  in  the  form  of  a  sermon,  by 
the  president,  who,  at  present,  enjoys  this  profes- 


26Q         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

The  president  derives  a  salary  of  one  thou- 
sand dollars  per  annum,  and  receives  a  fee 
of  four  dollars  for  every  degree  conferred. 
The  president  acts  as  tutor  to  the  head  class  of 
students.  The  professors  receive  eight  hundred 
and  twenty  dollars  per  annum  each,  and  the 
professor  of  chemistry  has  the  advantage  of  sell- 
ing tickets  for  the  lectures. 

The  number  of  chambers  is  one  hundred,  and 
this  is  regarded  as  sufficient  for  the  accom- 
modation of  two  hundred  students.  The  rent, 
charged  for  half  a  room,  is  one  dollar  and  a 
half  per  month.  Each  student  pays  his  propor- 
tion of  the  weekly  expenditure  of  the  house ; 
and  this  amounts  to  a  dollar  and  a  half  per 
week,  or  two  dollars,  and  sometimes  a  little 
more.  The  actual  number  of  students  residing 
at  this  college  for  several  years  past,  has  been 
between  two  hundred  and  five,  and  two  hundred 
and  fifteen.  In  summer,  the  students  rise  at  five 
o'clock,  breakfast  at  seven,  attend  the  chemical 
lecture  at  eight,  dine  at  one,  hear  prayers  at 
six,  and  sup  at  seven. 

The  library  consists  in  about  five  thousand 
volumes,  chiefly  modern,  and  disposed  in  a 
room  of  no  large  dimensions.  It  is  adorned 
with  one  of  Mr.  Stuart's  copies  of  his  picture  of 
General  Washington. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  261 

In  the  philosophical  lecture-room  are  portraits 
of  George  I.  Governor  Yale,  a  principal  bene- 
factor of  the  college  ;  Governors  Saltonstall  and 
Trumbull,  and  the  late  President  Stiles.  The 
philosophical  apparatus  has  cost  two  thousand 
dollars. 

The  value  of  the  present  chemical  apparatus 
does  not  exceed  fifteen  hundred ;  but  great 
advances  in  this  and  every  corresponding  object, 
will  probably  be  made  with  rapidity,  through 
the  abilities  and  industry  of  Mr.  Benjamin 
Silliman,  the  present  professor  of  chemistry. 
Mr.  Silliman  is  recently  returned  from  a  voy- 
age to  Europe,  made  at  the  expense  of  the 
college,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  the  neces- 
sary apparatus,  and  enlarging  his  own  scientific 
information ;  and  he  discovers,  in  a  variety  of 
particulars,  a  mind  ardently  and  incessantly  oc- 
cupied with  the  pursuits  and  duties  in  which 
he  is  engaged.  Besides  a  chemical  apparatus, 
he  has  made  and  arranged  a  small  but  respecta- 
ble collection  in  mineralogy  and  geology,  studies 
with  which  he  is  much  acquainted;  and  he 
looks  forward  to  the  establishment  of  a  com- 
plete school  of  medicine  at  Yale  College,  for 
which  professorships  in  anatomy  and  botany  are 
to  be  appointed,  and  in  furtherance  of  which  he 
will  himself  deliver  lectures  on  pharmacy,  in 
addition  to  his  lectures  on  chemistrv.  In  the 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

chemical  lecture-room  is  a  pneumatic  tub,  con- 
structed by  this  gentleman,  on  very  improved 
principles.*  Mr.  Silliman  is  understood  to  be 
preparing  for  the  press  an  account  of  his  travels 
in  Great  Britain ;  a  work  the  publication  of 
which  is  much  to  be  desired. 

*  A  plate  of  this  tub  may  be  seen  in  the  American 
Philosophical  Transactions,  vol.  vi.  part  I.  p.  104. 

The  tub  represented  on  that  plate,  varies  considera- 
bly, however,  in  the  details  of  arrangement,  from  the  ap- 
paratus actually  executed  by  Professor  Silliman  at  New- 
haven. 

1.  In   that  at   Newhaven,   the    gas    reservoirs    stop 
about  six  inches  short  of  the  ends  of  the  tub ;  in  the 
plate,  they  reach  to  the  ends. 

2.  In  the  plate,  there  are  two  reservoirs  on  one  side 
of  the  well,  and  but  one  on  the   other  ;  in  the  original, 

there  are  two  on  each  side. 

3.  In  the  original,  the  hydrostatic  bellows  are  placed 
at  the  ends  of  the  tub  ; — there  is  space  enough  left  be- 
tween the  bottom  of  the  reservoirs  and  the  bottom  of 
the  tub  to  allow  of  their  action  up  and  down  ; — they  pro- 
ject beneath  the  reservoirs,  and  the  gas  passes  through 
a  valve  in  the  top,  and  close  to  the  edge  of  the  bellows  : 
in  the  plate,  the   bellows  are   placed  in  the  well ;— the 
space  between  the  bottom  of   the   reservoirs    and  the 
bottom  of  the   tub,  is  nearly  removed,  and  the  gas  is 
to  be  forced  out,  through  a  tube  passing  from  the  bot- 
tom of  the  bellows  to  the  gas  reservoirs  ; — and  this  by  a 
reversed  action ;  viz.  by  depressing  the  bellows. 

4.  The  levers,  that  work  the  bellows,  appear,  in  the 


OP  THE   UNITED  STATES  263 

The  establishment  of  a  college  in  Connecti- 
cut was  first  projected  in  the  year  1698  ;  and  in 
1700  it  was  begun.  Saybrook  was  originally 
proposed  to  be  its  seat ;  but,  in  accommodation 
to  President  Pierson,  the  first  president,  it  re- 
mained, during  that  gentleman's  life,  at  Killing- 
worth.  In  1707,  it  was  removed  to  Saybrook  ; 
and  in  1716  to  Newhaven.  Here,  in  1717,  a 
college  edifice  of  wood  was  erected,  one  hun- 
dred and  seventy  feet  in  front,  and  twenty -two 

plate,  on  the  side  of  the  tub ; — in  the  original,  at  its 
ends. 

5.  The  tubes,  which  feed  the  blow-pipe,  have  in  the 
original  but  one  angle,  and  they  point  outward,  from 
the  tub ;  in  the  plate,  they  have  four  or  five  angles,  and 
point  inward. 

The  only  particular  in  which  Professor  Silliman  is  of 
opinion  that  the  arrangement  in  the  plate  is  superior 
to  his  own,  is  that  it  dispenses  with  the  space  between 
the  bottom  of  the  reservoir  and  the  bottom  of  the  tub  ; 
but  he  is  also  of  opinion  that  this  advantage  is  more 
than  counterbalanced  by  the  practical  difficulty  of 
making  the  bellows  absolutely  air-tight,  which  this  ar- 
rangement requires,  and  the  other  does  not ;  and  by  the 
difficulty  of  forcing  the  gas  downward,  through  a  mass 
of  water  resisting  its  escape,  which  demands  a  strong 
manual  effort ;  whereas,  in  his  arrangement,  the  gas 
runs  up,  of  its  own  accord.  The  professor  has  now 
formed  an  improved  plan,  by  which  he  believes  that  all 
the  difficulties  will  be  completely  obviated. 


264  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  kc. 

in  depth.     This  was  taken  down  in  1782  ;  and 
the  present  edifices  have  risen  since  that  date.* 

The  Reverend  Dr.  D  wight,  author  of  the 
Conquest  of  Canaan,  and  several  other  poems, 
the  actual  president  of  this  college,  is  the  suc- 
cessor of  the  late  Reverend  Dr.  Ezra  Stiles, 
who  died  in  the  year  1795.  From  President 
Dwight  I  experienced  the  utmost  readiness 
in  communicating  information,  accompanied  by 
those  urbane  and  obliging  manners  for  which 
he  is  conspicuous. 

Between  the  years  1700  and  1793,  the  number 
of  students  that  graduated  in  this  university  was 
two  thousand  two  hundred  and  three  ;  of  which 
nearly  eight  hundred  received  holy  orders. 
The  number  of  graduates  this  year  is  sixty. 

*  There  is  said  to  be  a  complete  account  of  Yale 
College,  from  its  institution  to  the  year  1766,  in  the 
a  Annals  or  History  of  Yale  College,  in  Newhaven, 
"  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  from  the  first  founding 
"  thereof,  in  the  year  1700,  to  the  year  1766:  with  an 
"  Appendix,  8cc.  By  Thomas  Clap,  A.  M.  President 
*'  of  the  said  College." 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Connecticut — Schools. 

I  HAVE  reserved  for  this  place  an  account 
of  the  common  schools,  as  aiming  to  bring  into 
one  general  view  the  institutions  that  have  re- 
ference to  school-learning. 

The  laws  which  relate  to  schools  are  not  com- 
pulsory, except  on  the  minorities  in  societies, 
which  are  bound  by  the  acts  of  the  majorities. 
To  the  societies,  they  only  give  power  and  as- 
sistance. 

The  societies,  which  have  their  constitution 
primarily  for  the  purposes  of  public  worship, 
and  in  this  view  are  called  ecclesiastical  societies, 
are  entrusted  with  the  management  of  their  local 
schools,  and  in  this  view  are  called  school  so- 
cieties. 

It  is  provided,  that  each  school  society  shall 
have  power  to  make  and  collect  rates,  for  the 
purposes  of  building  and  repairing  school- 
houses,  and  supporting  schools ;  to  divide  the 
local  limits  of  the  society  with  school-districts  ; 
and  to  place  school-houses  according  to  the 
judgment  of  its  committee.  The  societies  ap- 
point their  own  school-masters,  and  their  owu 
visitors.  The  societies  are  corporations,  and 
have  the  powers  usually  incident. 

VOL.  i.  L  I 


266 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


The  school-districts  have  power  to  take  into 
their  own  hands  what  regards  the  building  and 
maintenance  of  school-houses  and  other  objects, 
and  several  of  the  lesser  arrangements  of  accom- 
modation ;  and  even  to  exclude  from  their  schools 
the.  children  of  such  as  refuse  to  obey  the  will  of 
the  majority ;  but  they  are  otherwise  in  subordi- 
nation to  the  societies.  The  school-districts, 
therefore,  may  have  meetings,  clerks,  treasurers 
and  other  officers.* 

For  the  assistance  and  encouragement  of 
schools,  the  legislature  has  opened  the  pub- 
lic funds.  It  is  provided,  "  That  the  treasurer 
"  of  this  state  shall  annually  deliver  the  sum  of 
"  two  dollars  upon  every  thousand  dollars,  in  the 
"  list  of  each  school  society,  and  proportiona- 
"  bly  for  lesser  sums,  out  of  the  rate  of  each 
"  town,  as  the  same  shall  be  brought  into  the 
"  state  treasury,  under  the  committee  of  such 
"  school  society,  for  the  benefit  of  schools  in 
"  such  society ;"  and  that  the  interest  of  the 
funds  provided  by  the  sale  of  the  Connecticut 
Reserve,  called  also  the  Western  Reserve,  andNew 
Connecticut,  shall  be  distributed  to  the  school 
societies,  that  shall  conform  to  the  provisions  of 
the  act,  (that  is,  as  we  may  presume,  that 

*  Statutes  of  Connecticut,  Title  cxli.  Chap.   1,2,  3,  4- 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.         267 

shall  do  what  the  act  empowers  them  to  do,) 
each  society  according  to  its  list ;  but,  whether 
the  distribution  is  to  be  in  direct  or  in  inverse 
ratio  to  the  list,  is  not  said. 

The  sum  annually  accruing  to  the  use  of  the 
schools,  under  the  first  of  these  provisions,  de- 
pends on  the  annual  amount  of  the  grand  list. 
In  1801,  it  was  said  to  be  equal  to  twelve  thou- 
sand dollars.* 

The  amount  of  the  interest  of  the  fund,  arising 
from  the  sale  of  the  Connecticut  Reserve,  was 
then  also  seventy -two  thousand  dollars  ;  making 
a  sum  total  of  eighty-four  thousand  dollars.  If 
money  received  of  the  state  by  the  school  socie- 
ties is  applied  to  any  other  purpose  than  that  of 
maintaining  the  schools,  it  may  be  recovered  on 
the  suit  of  the  controller. 

The  public  funds  have  been  resorted  to,  for 
the  maintenance  of  the  schools,  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  government,  as  will  be  seen  more 
expressly  below ;  and  various  appropriations  have 
been  made,  at  different  periods. 

A  French  traveller  calls  the  schools  of  Con- 
necticut,  ecoles  gratuites  and  e coles  franches  ; 
that  is,  free- schools  and  charity- schools  ;f  but, 

*  Dwight's  Oration. 

t  Voyage  dan  les  Etats  Unis  d'Amerique,  par  La 
Rochefoucauld -Liancourt.  Tome  v.  p.  131. 


268         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

besides  that  the  parents,  of  the  children  who  fre- 
quent them,  pay  in  common  for  their  support, 
•they  pay  also  for  each  child  a  small  sum  per  week, 
the  amount  of  which  is  fixed  by  the  society. 

The  result  of  the  system  I  shall  give  in  the 
words  of  a  native  writer,  subscribing  for  myself 
to  their  truth.  His  deduction  will  perhaps  be 
thought  to  be  large,  but  it  is  popular.  "  It 
"  is  an  extraordinary  fact,  that  in  this  state, 
"  a  native  inhabitant,  either  male  or  female,  who 
"  cannot  both  read  and  write,  is  a  rare  pheno- 
"  menon.  Further  than  this,  almost  every  boy 
"  is  instructed  not  only  in  reading  and  writing, 
"  but  in  arithmetic  and  geography.  Hence 
"  every  industrious  man,  who  possesses  a  fair 
"  moral  character,  is  qualified  to  fill  many  im- 
"  portant  offices  in  the  town,  county,  and  state."* 

At  first,  the  maintenance  of  public  schools 
was  compulsory,  and  it  was  also  compulsory  on 
parents  to  send  their  children  to  the  schools: 
wow,  we  see  that  parents  may  be  denied  the 
privilege  of  the  schools  ;  and  the  law  only  de- 
mands, that  children,  by  one  means  or  other, 
shall  be  taught  and  instructed.^ 

The  compulsion,  however,  to  teach  and  in- 
struct,  may  be  said  to  include  the  rest ;  for  the 
establishment  of  schools,  under  the  regulations, 

*  Dwight's  Oration, 
t  Statutes,  Title  xxxiii.  Chap.  ju 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  269 

and  with  the  assistance  of  the  legislature,  affords 
the  most  convenient  and  most  economical  means 
of  compliance. 

Nor  is  this  compulsion  at  all  unrequisite,  if 
the  design  of  ihe  legislator  is  to  be  fulfilled. 
Masters,  guardians,  and  even  parents,  will  often 
be  more  attentive  to  their  own  views  than  to  the 
interests  of  the  children  whom  they  govern ;  to  say- 
nothing  of  negligence,  nor  of  that  contempt  of 
the  arts  of  book-learning,  in  which  the  ig- 
norant are  very  apt  to  indulge,  nor  of  party  feel- 
ing, which  enter  even  here.  The  profits 
which  parents  derive  from  the  labour  of  their 
children,  is  often  sufficient  to  prevent  the  allow- 
ance of  time  for  school  education ;  and  even  at 
the  present  day,  when  the  people  at  large  have 
acquired  an  habitual  regard  for  common 
schools,  there  are  still  thousands  of  families  in 
Connecticut,  upon  whom  nothing  but  the  law, 
and  the  public  feeling,  which  has  been  raised 
and  is  supported  by  the  law,  can  operate  in 
this  behalf.  The  difficulties  encountered  by  the 
early  lawgivers  of  the  colony  will  presently  ap- 
pear ;  and  it  will  be  seen,  that  to  carry  their  ob- 
ject, they  were  obliged  to  make  that  compromise, 
between  what  they  considered  the  calls  of  pub- 
lic interest,  and  what  were  the  calls  of  private  cupi- 
dity. It  was  allowed,  that  the  children  should  be 
\vithheld  from  the  schools  during  the  summer 


270 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


months,  an  indulgence  which  still  continues,  and 
but  for  which  schools  would  find  small  favour. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  late  edition  of  the 
Statutes  which  carries  back  the  history  of  the 
school  system  beyond  the  year  1700 ;  but,  in 
the  manuscript  records  of  Connecticut,  there  are 
documents  which  show  that  it  is  at  least  as  old 
as  the  Narragansett  war,  or  the  year  1675  ;  and 
it  is  probable  that  it  engaged  the  attention  of 
the  legislators  of  the  colony  from  the  beginning. 

The  institution  here  developed  must  be  re- 
garded as  a  positive  institution,  resting  not  upon 
abstract  principles,  but  upon  its  own  practical 
merits.  In  estimating  its  value,  great  regard 
must  be  had  to  the  country  in  which  it  is  found  ; 
or  in  other  words,  to  its  bearings  on  the  entire 
system  of  which  it  is  a  part.  Considered  in  a 
broader  view,  its  benefits  may  be  pronounced 
to  be,  not  indeed  equivocal,  but  limited. 

"  At  a  General  Court,  held  at  Hartford, 

"  May  8,  1690. 

"  THIS  court  observing,  that  notwithstanding 
"  the  former  orders,  made  for  the  education  of 
"  children  and  servants,  there  are  many  persons 
"  unable  to  read  the  English  tongue,  and  there - 
"  by  incapable  to  read  the  holy  word  of  God, 
"  or  the  good  laws  of  this  colony,  which  evil, 
"  that  it  grow  not  further  upon  their  majesties' 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  271 

"  subjects  here,  it  is  ordered,  that  all  parents 
*'  and  masters  shall  cause  their  respective  chil- 
"  dren  and  servants,  as  they  are  capable,  to  be 
"  taught  to  read  distinctly  the  English  tongue, 
"  and  that  the  grand-jurymen  in  each  town  do, 
"  once  in  the  year  at  least,  visit  each  family 
"  they  suspect  to  neglect  this  order,  and  satisfy 
*'  themselves  whether  all  children  under  age,  and 
"  servants,  in  such  suspected  families,  can  read 
"  well  the  English  tongue,  or  be  in  good  proce- 
"  dure  to  learn  the  same,   or  not ;  and,  if  they 
"  find  any  such  children  or  servants  not  taught 
"  as  their  years  are  capable  of,  they  shall  return 
"  the  names  of  the  parents  or  masters  of  the  said 
"  children,    so   untaught,    to  the   next  court, 
"  where  the  said  parents  or  masters   shall  be 
"  fined  twenty  shillings  for  each  child  or  servant 
"  whose  teaching  is  or  shall  be  neglected,  con- 
"  trary  to  this  order,  unless  it  shall  appear  to  the 
"  satisfaction  of  the  court,  that  the  said  neglect 
**  is  not  voluntary,  but  necessitated  by  the  inca- 
"  pacity   of  the    parents,   or  master,    or  their 
14  neighbours,   to   cause  them  to  be  taught  as 
"  aforesaid,  or  the  incapacity  of  the  said  chil- 
"  dren  or  servants  to  learn."* 

*  MS  Records  of  Connecticut. 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  At  a  General  Court  at  Hartford,  May  8, 
"  1690. 

"  WHEREAS  this  court,  at  the  time  of  New 
"  England's  calamity,  at  the  last  Indian  war, 
"  being  then  under  the  sense  of  the  Lord's  dis- 
"  pleasure  against  us,  for  the  sins  of  the  land, 
u  made  divers  and  sundry  good  and  wholesome 
"  laws,  for  the  suppression  of  vice  and  encourage  - 
"  mentofvirtue,  in  hopes  of  thorough  reformation 
"  of  those  God-provoking  evils,  bewayled  by  all 
"  good  men ;  and  whereas  the  sayd  court,  after 
"  wards  about  the  year  1684,  forthe  further  inforce- 
"  ment  of  those  laws,  did  make  orders,  direct- 
"  ed  to  all  inferior  officers  and  ministers  of 
"  justice,  for  the  due  execution  of  the  sayd 
"  laws  ;  we  finding  (to  our  sorrow)  that,  instead 
"  of  the  reformation  sincerely  aimed  at,  vice 
"  and  corruption  of  manners,  in  most  places,  ra- 
"  ther  abound  and  increase  more  than  ever,  and 
"  fearing,  if  the  Lord,  in  his  mercy  and  sove- 
"  reign  grace,  prevent  not,  we  may  at  length 
"  prove  an  incorrigible  people,  and  so  a  genera- 
"  tion  of  his  wrath,  without  remedy,  ripened 
"  for  deserved  desolation,  which  we  are  now 
"  again,  several  ways,  obvious  to  all,  threatened 
"  by  cruel  war  and  sickness,  we  do,  therefore, 
"  in  the  fear  of  God,  once  more,  not  only  re- 
"  commend  it,  to  all  magistrates  and  commis- 
**  sioners  of  the  colony,  in  their  several  places, 
1 


OF  THE  UNITED  ST  V  i  273 

"  that  the  sayd  order  be  duly,  constantly,  and  im- 
"  partially  executed,  but  also  to  that  end  doe 
"  againe  order  and  enjoy ne  all  the  selectmen, 
"  constables  and  grand-jurymen,  in  the  several 
"  plantations,  carefully  to  attend  to  the  sayd  or- 
"  ders  of  1684,  in  a  diligent  inquiry  into,  and 
"  presentment  of,  all  such  breaches  and  trans- 
"  gressions  of  the  said  reformation-laws,  and 
"  other  the  good  and  wholesome  laws  of  this  co- 
"  lony,  that  the  government  and  nilers  may  be  a 
"  terror  to  evil  doers,  as  in  our  first  times,  and 
"  the  Lord  may  yet  take  pleasure  in  us,  as  his 
"  people :  and  we  do  further  solemnly  recom- 
"  mend  it  to  the  ministers  of  our  God,  in  their 
"  several  places,  by  their  holy  labours  to  fur- 
"  ther  what  in  them  lyeth  this  great  work  of  re- 
"  formation,  in  a  due  witness-bearing  against 
"  the  sins  and  growing  evils  of  the  times,  where  - 
"  in  we  have  no  reason  to  doubt  of  their  for- 
"  wardness  and  holy  zeal,  and  hope  the  Lord 
"  will  be  with  us  and  them. 

"  This  court,  considering  the  necessity  that 
*'  many  parents  or  masters  may  be  under,  to 
"  improve  their  children  and  servants  in  labour 
"  for  a  great  part  of  the  year,  doe  order,  that  if 
*  the  towne  schooles,  in  the  several  townes, 
"  as  distinctly  from  the  free  schools,  be,  ac- 
"  cording  to  law,  already  established,  kept  up 
"  six  months  in  each  year,  to  teach  to  read  and 

VOL.  i.  M  m 


274       TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  &c. 

"  write  the  English  tongue,  the  said  towne,  so 
"  keeping  their  respective  schools,  six  moneths 
"in  each  year,  to  teach  to  read  and  write  the 
"  English  tongue,  shall  not  be  presentable  or 
"  fineable  by  law,  for  not  having  a  schoole  ac- 
"  cording  to  law,  notwithstanding  any  former 
"  law  or  order  to  the  contrary."* 

The  statute  then  goes  on  to  direct,  that  there 
shall  be  two  free-schools  maintained,  "  for  the 
"  teaching  of  such  children  as  shall  come  there, 
"  after  they  can  first  read  the  psalter."  The 
schools,  one  of  which  is  fixed  at  Hartford,  the 
other  at  Newhaven,  are  to  teach  reading,  wri- 
ting, arithmetic,  and  the  Latin  and  Greek 
tongues.  The  masters  are  to  be  chosen  by  the 
magistrates  and  ministers,  and  to  receive  the  sum 
of  sixty  pounds,  in  country  pay  ;  thirty  pounds 
to  be  paid  out  of  the  county-treasury,  and 
the  other  thirty  out  of  the  school  revenue, 
given  by  particular  persons,  or  to  be  given 
to  that  use,  so  far  as  it  will  extend  ;  and  the  rest 
to  be  made  up  by  the  respective  towns  of  Hart- 
ford and  Newhaven. 

*  MS  Records  of  Connecticut. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

Connecticut — Ancient  Government  of  Newhaven. 

SOME  celebrity  attaches  itself  to  Newhaven, 
in  consequence  of  the  code  of  laws  to  which  she 
had  the  honour  of  giving  birth  while  an  independ- 
ent colony,  and  which  are  opprobriously  denomi- 
nated blue -laws.  These  are  the  laws  sky  blue, 
referred  to  in  a  poetical  extract  above  ;  and  which 
are  denned  in  prose,  by  a  kindred  authority,  to 
be  "  a  code  of  absurd  and  rigorous  laws,  framed 
"  in  the  true  spirit  of  puritanic  fanaticism."  It 
is  to  be  observed,  that  these  laws  are  no  longer 
in  force  ;  the  laws  of  Connecticut  having  super- 
seded  them,  at  the  union  of  the  colonies,  and  no 
part  of  the  laws  of  Newhaven  having  been  en- 
grafted on  the  Connecticut  code.* 

Of  these  laws,  some  specimens  will  be  expect- 
ed by  many  readers,  and  may  be  agreeable  to 
all  ;  but,  in  order  to  enter  fully  into  their  spirit, 
we  ought  previously  to  be  acquainted  with  the 
spirit  of  the  government  whence  they  sprung. 
To  this  end,  it  will  be  useful  to  peruse  the  pro- 
ces  verbal  of  the  constitution  of  government, 

*  Statutes  of  Connecticut.     See  the 


276         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

and  of  the  manner  in  which  the  constitution  was 
produced,  and  which  is  on  record  as  follows  : 

"  THE  4th  day  of  the  4th  month,  called  June, 
"  1639,  all  the  free  planters  assembled  together 
"  in  a  general  meeting,  to  consult  about  settling 
"  civil  government  according  to  God,  and  the 
"  nomination  of  persons  that  might  be  found, 
"  by  consent  of  all,  fittest  in  all  respects  for  the 
"  foundation-work  of  a  church,  which  was  in- 
"  tended  to  be  gathered  inQuinipiack.*  After  so- 
"  lemn  invocation  of  the  name  of  God  in  prayer,  for 
"  the  presence  and  help  of  his  spirit  and  grace  in 
"  those  weighty  businesses,  they  were  reminded 
"  of  the  business  whereabout  they  met,  viz.  for 
"  the  establishment  of  such  civil orderas  might  be 
"  most  pleasing  unto  God,  and  for  the  choosing 
"  the  fittest  men  for  the  foundation- work  of  a 
"  church  to  be  gathered.  For  the  better  ena- 
"  bling  them  to  disceni  the  mind  of  God,  and 
"  to  agree  accordingly  concerning  the  establish- 
"  ment  of  civil  order,  Mr.  John  Davenport 
"  propounded  divers  queries  to  them  publicly, 
"  praying  them  to  consider  seriously,  in  the 
"  presence  and  fear  of  God,  the  weight  of  the 
"  business  they  met  about,  and  not  to  be  rash  or 
"  slight  in  giving  their  votes  to  things  they  un- 
"  derstood  not ;  but  to  digest  fully  and  tho- 

*  Quinipiac,  Quinnipauge  or  Quiiinipioke,  is  the  In- 
dian name  of  Ncwhaven. 


OF   Tiir.  i  MTED  STATES. 


277 


"  roughly  what  should  be  propounded  to  them, 
"  and  without  respect  to  men,  as  they  should  be 
"  satisfied  and  persuaded  in  their  own  minds,  to 
"  give  their  answers  in  sueh  sort  as  they  would 
"  be  willing  should  stand  upon  record  for  poste- 
"  rity. 

"  This  being  earnestly  pressed  by  Mr.  Daven- 
"  port,  Mr.'  Robert  Newman  was  intreated  to 
"  write,  in  characters,  and  to  read  distinctly  and 
"  audibly  in  the  hearing  of  all  the  people,  what 
"  was  propounded  and  accorded  on,  that  it  might 
"  appear,  that  all  consented  to  matters  propound- 
"  ed,  according  to  words  written  by  him. 

"  Query  I.  Whether  the  scriptures  do  hold 
"  forth  a  perfect  rule  for  the  direction  and  go- 
"  vernment  of  all  men  in  all  duties  which  they  are 
"  to  perform  to  God  and  men,  as  well  in  fami- 
"  lies  and  commonwealth,  as  in  matters  of  the 
"  church  ? 

"  Query  II.  Whereas  there  was  a  covenant 
"  solemnly  made  by  the  whole  assembly  of  free 
"  planters  of  this  plantation,  the  first  day  of  ex- 
"  traordinary  humiliation,  which  we  had  after 
"  we  came  together,  that  (as  in  matters  that  con- 
"  cern  the  gathering  and  ordering  of  a  church, 
"  so  likewise  in  all  public  officers  which  concern 
"  civil  order,  as  choice  of  magistrates  and  offi- 
"  cers,  making  and  repealing  laws,  dividing  al- 
"  lotments  of  inheritance,  and  all  things  of  like 
"  nature)  we  would  all  of  us  be  ordered  by  those 


278         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  rules  which  the  scripture  holds  forth  to  us, 
"  which  covenant  was  called  a  plantation  cove- 
"  nant,  to  distinguish  it  from  a  church  covenant, 
"  which  could  not  at  that  time  be  made,  a 
"  church  not  being  then  gathered,  but  was  de- 
"  ferred  till  a  church  might  be  gathered,  accord- 
"  ing  to  God : — It  was  demanded,  whether  all  the 
"  free  planters  do  hold  themselves  bound  by  that 
"  covenant,  in  all  businesses  of  that  nature  which 
"  are  expressed  in  the  covenant,  to  submit  them- 
"  selves  to  be  ordered  by  the  rules  held  forth  in 
"  the  scripture  ? 

"  Query  III.  Those  who  have  desired  to  be  re- 
"  ceived  as  free  planters,  and  are  settled  in  the 
"  plantation,  with  a  purpose,  resolution  and  de- 
"  sire,  that  they  may  be  admitted  into  church- 
"  fellowship,  according  to  Christ,  as  soon  as  God 
"  shall  fit  them  thereunto,  were  desired  to  ex- 
"  press  it,  by  holding  up  hands  ? 

"  Accordingly,  all  did  express  this  to  be  their 
"  desire  and  purpose,  by  holding  up  their  hands 
"  twice,  viz.  at  the  proposal  of  it,  and  after, 
"  when  these  written  words  wrere  read  unto 
"  them. 

"  Query  IV.  All  the  free  planters  were  called 
"  upon  to  express,  whether  they  held  themselves 
"  bound  to  establish  such  civil  order  as  might 
"  best  conduce  to  the  securing  of  the  purity 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  279 

"  and  peace  of  the  ordinance  to  themselves  and 
"  their  posterity,  according  to  God? 

Query  V.  Whether  free  burgesses  shall  be 
"  chosen  out  of  the  church  members,  they  that 
"  are  in  the  foundation- work  of  the  church  being 
"  actually  free  burgesses,  and  to  choose  to  them- 
"  selves  out  of  the  like  estate  of  church-fellow- 
"  ship,  and  the  power  of  choosing  magistrates 
"  and  officers  from  among  themselves,  and  the 
"  power  of  making  and  repealing  laws,  according 
"  to  the  word;  and  the  dividing  of  inheritances* 
"  and  deciding  of  differences  that  may  arise, 
"  and  all  the  businesses  of  like  nature  are  to  be 
"  transacted  by  those  free  burgesses  ? 

"  This  was  put  to  vote  and  agreed  unto  by 
"  lifting  up  of  hands  twice,  as  in  the  former  it 
"  was  done.  Then  one  man  stood  up,  and  ex- 
"  pressed  his  dissenting  from  the  rest,  in  part  ; 
"  yet  granting,  1.  That  magistrates  should  be 
"  men  fearing  God ;  2.  That  the  church  is 
"  the  company  where  ordinarily  such  menrnav 
"  be  expected  ;  3.  That  they  that  choose  them 
"  ought  to  be  men  fearing  God ; — only  at  this  he 
"  stuck,  that  free  planters  ought  not  to  give  this 
"  power  out  of  their  hands.  Another  stood  up, 
"  and  answered,  that  nothing  was  done,  but 
"  with  their  consent.  The  former  answered, 
11  that  all  the  free  planters  ought  to  resume  this 
"  power  into  their  own  hands  again,  if  things 


280  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  were  not  orderly  carried.  Mr.  Theophilus 
"  Eaton  answered,  that  in  all  places  they  choose 
"  committees  in  like  manner.  The  companies 
"  in  London  choose  the  liveries,  by  whom  the 
"  public  magistrates  are  chosen.  In  this  the 
"  rest  are  not  wronged;  because  they  expect,  in 
"  time,  to  be  of  the  livery  themselves,  and  to 
"  have  the  same  power.  Some  others  intreated 
"  the  former  to  give  his  arguments  and  reasons, 
"  whereupon  he  dissented.  He  refused  to  do  it, 
a  and  said,  they  might  not  rationally  demand  it, 
tc  seeing  he  let  the  vote  pass  on  freely,  and  did 
"  not  speak  till  after  it  was  past,  because  he  would 
il  not  hinder  what  they  agreed  upon.  Then,  Mr. 
"  Davenport,  after  a  short  relation  of  some 
"  former  passages  between  them  two  about  this 
"  question,  prayed  the  .company  that  nothing 
"  might  be  concluded  by  them  on  this  weighty 
"  question,  but  what  themselves  were  persuaded 
"  to  be  agreeing  with  the  mind  of  God;  and  they 
"  had  heard  what  had  been  said  since  the  vo- 
"  ting :  he  intreated  them  again  to  consider  of 
"  it,  and  put  it  again  to  vote,  as  before.  Again 
"  all  of  them,  by  holding  up  their  hands,  did 
"  show  their  consent  as  before.  And  some  of 
"  them  confessed,  that  whereas  they  did  waver 
"  before  they  came  to  the  assembly,  they  were 
"  now  fully  convinced  that  it  is  the  mind  of 
"  God.  One  of  them  said,  that  in  the  morning 

9 


or  TMK  r\m:n  STATES.  28} 

"  before  he  came,  reading  Dent.  xvii.  15.  he 
"  convinced  at  home.  Another  said»  that  hi 
"  came  doubting  to  the  assembly  ;  but  he  blessed 
"  God,  by  what  had  been  said,  he  was  now  fully 
"  satisfied,  that  the  choice  of  burgesses  out  of 
"  church  members,  and  to  entrust  those  with  the 
"  power  before  spoken  of  is  according  to  the 
"  mind  of  God  revealed  in  the  scriptures.  All 
"  having  spoken  their  apprehensions,  it  w;,> 
"  agreed  upon,  and  Mr.  Robert  Newman  was 
"  desired  to  write  it  as  an  order  whereunto  evc- 
"  ry  one,  that  hereafter  should  be  admitted  here 
"  as  planters,  should  submit,  and  testify  the  same' 
"  by  subscribing  their  names  to  the  order  : 
"  namely,  that  church  members  only  shall  be 
"  free  burgesses,  and  that  they  only  shall  choose 
"  magistrates  and  officers  among  themselves,  to 
"  have  power  of  transacting  all  the  public  civil 
"  affairs  of  this  plantation ;  of  making  and  re- 
"  pealing  laws,  dividing  of  inheritances,  deci- 
u  ding  of  differences  that  m;iy  arise,  and  doing 
"  all  things  and  businesses  of  like  nature. 

"  This  being  thus  settled,  as  a  fundamental 
"  agreement  concerning  civil  government,  Mr. 
"  Davenport  proceeded  to  propound  something 
"  to  consideration  about  the  gathering  of  a 
"  church,  and  to  prevent  the  blemishing  of  the 
"  first  beginnings  of  the  church  work,  Mr.  Da- 
"  venport  advised,  that  the  names  of  such  as 
VOL.  i.  x  n 


282          THAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  were  to  be  admitted  might  be  publicly  pro- 
"  pounded,  to  the  end  that  they  who  were  most 
"  approved  might  be  chosen  ;  for  the  town  be- 
"  ing  cast  into  several  private  meetings,  where - 
"  in  they  that  lived  nearest  together  gave  their 
"  accounts,  one  to  another,  of  God's  gracious 
"  work  upon  them,  and  prayed  together,  and 
"  conferred,  to  their  mutual  edification,  sundry 
"  of  them  had  knowledge  one  of  another ;  and 
"  in  every  meeting  some  one  was  more  approved 
"  of  all  than  any  other :  for  this  reason  and  to 
"  prevent  scandals,  the  whole  company  was  en- 
"  treated  to  consider  whom  they  found  fittest  to 
"  nominate  for  this  work. 

"  Query  VI.  Whether  are  you  all  willing  and 
"  do  agree  in  this,  that  twelve  men  be  chosen, 
"  that  their  fitness  for  the  foundation- work  may 
"  be  tried  ;  however  there  may  be  more  named, 
"  yet  it  may  be  in  their  power,  who  are  chosen,  to 
"  reduce  them  to  twelve,  and  that  it  be  in  the 
"  power  of  those  twelve  to  choose  out  of  them- 
"  selves  seven,  that  shall  be  most  approved  of 
"  by  the  major  part,  to  begin  the  church  ? 

"  This  was  agreed  upon  by  the  consent  of  all, 
"  as  was  expressed  by  holding  up  of  hands ;  and 
"  that  so  many  as  should  be  thought  fit  for  the 
"  foundation- work  of  the  church,  shall  be  pro- 
"  pounded  by  the  plantation,  and  written  down 
"  and  pass  without  exception,  unless  they  had 


OF  THK  rXlTEl) 

"  given  public  scandal  or  offence.  Yet  so,  as  in 
"  case  of  public  scandal  or  offence,  every  one 
"  should  have  liberty  to  propound  their  excep- 
"  tion,  at  that  time,  publicly  against  any  man, 
"  that  should  be  nominated,  when  all  their  names 
"  should  be  writ  down.  But,  if  the  offence  were 
u  private,  that  men's  names  might  be  tendered, 
11  so  many  as  were  offended  were  entreated  to 
"  deal  with  the  offender  privately ;  and,  if  he  gave 
"  not  satisfaction,  to  bring  the  matter  to  the 
"  twelve,  that  they  might  consider  of  it  impar- 
"  tially,  and  in  the  fear  of  God." 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Connecticut — Newhaven  Blue-laws. 

THROUGH  the  kindness  of  a  gentleman 
in  Newhaven,  an  opportunity  was  afforded  me  of 
inspecting  the  manuscript  records  of  the  colony, 
including  its  ancient  laws.  My  time,  however, 
was  short,  and  the  manuscripts  were  long; 
so  that  I  made  little  use  of  the  advantage,  and 
I  am  now  indebted  to  a  modern  historian  for 
the  extracts  that  are  subjoined.  But,  this 
author  gives  us  the  sense,  and  not  the  words, 
a  mode  of  transcription  very  little  satisfactory  ; 
a  mode,  in  the  adoption  of  which  a  writer  should 


284        TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

rarely  trust  himself,  and  in  which  he  is  rarely  to 
be  trusted. 

As  to  the  substance  of  the  specimen  sub- 
joined, a  part  will  discover  the  little  subordina- 
1  ion  to  the  mother  country,  acknowledged  from 
the  first,  by  the  dominion  of  Newhaven ;  a  part 
is  distinguished  by  unnecessary  rigour  ;  a  part 
by  ignorance  and  injustice  ;  a  part  is  common  to 
nil  the  codes,  ancient  and  modern,  in  New  En- 
gland ;  a  part  is  unexceptionable ;  and  only  a 
small  remainder  is  strictly  characteristic  of  the 
particular  persons  from  whom  it  came. 

"  THE  governor  and  magistrates,  convened  in 
"  general  assembly,  are  the  supreme  power,  un- 
"  der  God,  of  this  independent  dominion. 

"  From  the  determination  of  the  assembly  no 
"  appeal  shall  be  made. 

"  The  governor  is  amenable  to  the  voice  of 
"  the  people. 

"  The  governor  shall  have  only  a  single  vote 
"  in  determining  any  question ;  except  a  casting 
"  vote,  when  the  assembly  may  be  equally  di- 
"  vided. 

"  The  assembly  of  the  people  shall  not  be 
"  dismissed  by  the  governor,  but  shall  dismiss 
u  itself. 

"  Conspiracy  against  this  dominion  shall  be 
"  punished  with  death. 


«F  TM«:  I  SITED  STATES. 

"  Whoever  says  there  is  a  power  and  jurisdic- 
"  tion  above  and  over  this  dominion,  shall  suffer 
"  death  and  loss  of  property. 

"  Whoever  attempts  to  change  or  overturn 
"  this  dominion  shall  suffer  death. 

u  The  judges  shall  determine  controversies 
u  without  a  jury. 

"  No  one  shall  be  a  freeman,  or  give  a  vote, 
"  unless  he  be  converted,  and  a  member  in  full 
"  communion  of  one  of  the  churches  allowed  in 
"  this  dominion. 

u  No  man  shall  hold  any  office,  who  is  not 
a  sound  in  the  faith,  and  faithful  to  this  domi- 
"  nion ;  and  whoever  gives  a  vote  to  such  a  per- 
"  son,  shall  pa}'  a  line  of  £l.  For  a  second  of- 
"  fence,  he  shall  be  disfranchised. 

"  Each  freeman  shall  swear  by  the  blessed  God 
"  to  bear  true  allegiance  to  this  dominion,  and 
"  that  Jesus  is  the  only  king. 

"  No  quaker  or  dissenter  from  the  established 
•'  worship  of  this  dominion,  shall  be  allowed  to 
"  give  a  vote  for  the  election  of  magistrates,  or 
*'  any  officer. 

"  No  food  or  lodging  shall  be  afforded  to  a 
"  quaker,  Adamite  or  other  heretic. 

"  If  any  person  turns  quaker,  he  shidl  be  ba 
"  nished,  and  not  suffered  to  return,  bnt  upon 
;'  pain  of  death. 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  No  priest  shall  abide  in  the  dominion  :  he 
<*  shall  be  banished,  and  suffer  death  on  his  re<- 
"  turn.  Priests  may  be  seized  by  any  one  with- 
"  out  a  warrant. 

"  No  one  to  cross  a  river,  but  with  an  autho- 
•'  rised  ferryman. 

"  No  one  shall  run  on  the  sabbath-day,  or 
**  walk  in  his  garden  or  elsewhere,  except  reve- 
u  rently  to  and  from  meeting. 

"  No  one  shall  travel,  cook  victuals,  make 
"  beds,  sweep  house,  cut  hair,  or  shave,  on  the 
u  sabbath-day. 

"  No  woman  shall  kiss  her  child  on  the  sab- 
"  bath  or  fasting- day. 

"  The  sabbath  shall  begin  at  sunset  on  Satur- 
"'  day. 

"  To  pick  an  ear  of  corn  growing  in  a  neigh- 
"  bour's  garden,  shall  be  deemed  theft.  '\..fy 

"  A  person  accused  of  trespass  in  the  night 
"  shall  be  judged  guilty,  unless  he  clear  himself 
u  by  his  oath. 

"  When  it  appears  that  an  accused  has  confe- 
w  derates,  and  he  refuses  to  discover  them,  he 
"  may  be  racked. 

"  No  one  shall  buy  or  sell  lands  without  per- 
"  mission  of  the  selectmen. 

"  A  drunkard  shall  have  a  master  appointed 
"  by  the  selectmen,  who  are  to  debar  him  from 
"  the  liberty  of  buying  and  selling. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  287 

"  Whoever  publishes  a  lie  to  the  prejudice  of 
"  his  neighbour,  shall  sit  in  the  stocks,  or  be 
"  whipped  fifteen  stripes. 

"  No  minister  shall  keep  a  school. 

"  Every  ratable  person,  who  refuses  to'  pay 
"  his  proportion  to  the  support  of  the  minister  of 
"  the  town  or  parish,  shall  be  fined  by  the  court 
"  £'2^  and  £4,  every  quarter,  until  he  or  she  shall 
"  pay  the  rate  to  the  minister. 

"  Men-stealers  shall  suffer  death. 

"  Whoever  wears  clothes  trimmed  with  gold, 
"  silver,  or  bone  lace,  above  two  shillings  by  the 
"  yard,  shall  be  presented  by  the  grand  jurors, 
"  and  the  selectmen  shall  tax  the  offender  at 
"  £300  estate. 

"  A  debtor  in  prison,  swearing  he  has  no 
"  estate,  shall  be  let  out,  and  sold,  to  make  sa- 
"  tisfaction. 

"  Whoever  sets  a  fire  in  the  woods,  and  it 
"  bums  a  house,  shall  suffer  death  ;  and  persons 
"  suspected  of  this  crime  shall  be  imprisoned, 
"  without  benefit  of  bail. 

"  Whoever  brings  cards  or  dice  into  this  do- 
"  minion  shall  pay  a  fine  of  £5. 

"  No  one  shall  read  common-prayer,  keep 
"  Christmas  or  saint-days,  make  minced  pies, 
"  dance,  play  cards,  or  play  on  any  instrument 
"  of  music,  except  the  drum,  trumpet  and  jews- 
"  harp. 


-288  TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  No  gospel  minister  shall  join  people  in  mar- 
"  riage  ;  the  magistrates  only  shall  join  in  mar- 
"  riage,  as  they  may  do  it  with  less  scandal  to 
*c  Christ's  church. 

"  When  parents  refuse  their  children  conve- 
kt  nient  marriages,  the  magistrates  shall  deter- 
"  mine  the  point. 

"  The  selectmen,  on  finding  children  igno- 
"  rant,  may  take  them  away  from  their  parents, 
u  and  put  them  into  better  hands,  at  the  expense 
"  of  their  parents. 

"  Fornication  shall  be  punished  by  compel - 
**•  ling  marriage,  or  as  the  court  may  think  pi  o- 


"  Adultery  shall  be  punished  with  death. 

"  A  man  that  strikes  his  wife  shall  pay  a  fine 
"  of  .£10 ;  a  woman  that  strikes  her  husband 
"•  shall  be  punished  as  the  court  directs. 

"  A  wife  shall  be  deemed  good  evidence 
*'*•  against  her  husband. 

"  No  man  shall  court  a  maid  in  person,  or  by 
"  letter,  without  first  obtaining  consent  of  her  pa- 
"  rents;  £5  penalty  for  the  first  offence  ;  £10 
"  for  the  second  ;  and,  for  the  third,  imprison - 
"  ment  during  the  pleasure  of  the  court. 

"  Married  persons  must  live  together,  or  bt1 
*e  imprisoned. 

£C  Every  mule  shall  have  his  hair  cut  round  ae-- 
"  cording  to  a  cap." 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  289 

"  Of  such  sort  were  the  laws  made  by  the  peo- 
"  pie  of  Newhaven,  previous  to  their  incorpora- 
"  tion  with  Saybrook  and  Hartford  colonies  by 
"  the  charter.  They  consist  of  a  vast  multitude, 
"  and  were  very  properly  termed  Blue  Laws  ; 
"  i.  e.  bloody  laws ;  for  they  were  all  sanctified 
"  with  excommunication,  confiscation,  fines,  ba- 
"  nishment,  whippings,  cutting  off  the  ears, 
"  burning  the  tongue,  and  death."* 

With  respect  to  the  epithet  blue,  I  believe  the 
writer  is  mistaken,  when  he  explains  it  by 
bloody  ;  or,  at  least,  that  in  whatever  sense  it  was 
or  is  applied  to  the  laws  of  Newhaven,  its  origi- 
nal import  was  no  more  than  presbyterian  or  pu- 
ritan. It  appears  to  have  been  so  used  in  Scot- 
land, where  it  originated. 

*  A  General  History  of  Connecticut,  8cc.  By  a 
Gentleman  of  the  Province.  Second  edition,  London, 
1788.  The  author  of  this  work  is  novr  commonly 
known  te  be,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  Peters. 


VOL.  I. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Connecticut — New  London. 

TILL  lately,  the  entire  country,  between  the 
Connecticut  and  the  Thames,  was  comprised 
within  two  towns,  of  which  the  westeni  is  called 
Lyme,  and  the  eastern  New  London.  This 
country,  over  which  I  passed  on  the  seventeenth 
of  June,  presents  little  beside  a  succession  of 
rocky  hills.  The  soil,  however,  is  strong,  and 
very  profitable  to  the  dairy  farmer.  In  these  si- 
tuations, moisture  and  consequent  verdure  are 
preserved,  long  after  those  of  more  favourable 
aspects  are  parched  with  drought.  Early 
droughts  are  the  misfortunes  which,  in  this  coun- 
try, the  farmer  usually  has  to  fear ;  but  the  pre- 
sent season  is  universally  remarked,  not  for  its 
dryness,  but  its  too  abundant  rains. 

Lyme  is  said  to  have  been  called  by  the  In- 
dians Nehantic.  Its  settlement  commenced 
about  the  year  1644  ;  and  it  was  incorporated  as 
a  town  in  1667.  In  1790,  it  contained  3,859 
inhabitants.  It  is  this  year  rated  in  the  grand 
list  at  79,737  dollars  and  50  cents,  and  appears 


TRAVELS  THKOUUM  1'AKT,  k. 

U>  iced  considerably  more  than  eight  thousand 
sheep.  It  is  divided  into  three  societies,  ex- 
clusive of  a  society  of  anabaptists,  and  another 
of  separatists,  or  of  the  new  light,  which  it  ei- 
ther now  does,  or  lately  did,  contain.  The  so- 
ciety or  parish  in  the  no)  :heni  part  of  Lyme 
abuts  upon  East  Haddam ;  and  I  understand 
that  a  new  town  is  projected  in  this  quarter,  to 
be  taken  out  of  East  Haddam  and  Lyme,  and 
named,  in  grateful  memory  of  its  parents,  Had- 
lyme. 

Having  crossed  the  Connecticut  at  Say  brook 
Ferry,  the  direct  road  to  New  London  was  by 
the  bridge  that  has  been  thrown  over  Rope-ferry 
river  ;  but  this  bridge,  like  the  others,  having  been 
carried  away  by  the  floods  or  freshes,  here  called 
freshets,  I  travelled  by  what  is  called  the  upper 
road.  The  whole  distance  is  about  nineteen  miles. 

After  descending  into  a  small,  but  pleasant 
valley,  where,  for  a  short  space  the  rocky  surface 
is  exchanged  for  sand,  the  road  rises  again 
into  a  lofty  region,  of  which  the  eastern  brow 
surveys  New  London,  its  harbour,  and  Fort 
Griswold  on  the  opposite  heights. 

Nothing  can  be  said  of  the  luxuriance  of  the 
prospect  that  is  here  presented,  of  its  lawns  or 
shades,  its  meadows,  glades  or  groves ;  but 
it  has  a  wild  majesty  and  greatness,  which, 
seeing  it,  as  I  did,  under  serene  and  splendid 


292         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

skies,  impressed  me  strongly  with  its  beauty. 
Rocks  jut  forth  on  every  side ;  or,  lying  in  innu- 
merable masses,  whiten  all  the  hills,  as  if  with 
flocks  of  sheep ;  little  wood  is  to  be  seen  ;  and 
the  whole  surface  is  broken,  but  the  expanse  is 
large,  the  level  diversified,  and  there  is  a 
magnificent  breadth  of  water  under  the  eye. 
In  the  front-ground,  at  our  feet,  are  the  build- 
ings of  New  London,  among  which  the  house 
of  General  Huntington  is  an  embellishment. 
Fort  Griswold,  in  Groton,  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river,  shows  its  neglected  and  decaying  bas- 
tions. 

Descending  the  hill  that  is  above  the  High- 
street,  I  proceeded  to  Poole's  Hotel,  where, 
owing  to  the  county-court,  which  was  then  sit- 
ting, the  company  was  large. 

New  London,  that  is,  the  New  London  of 
which  I  am  now  speaking,  is  a  city,  formed  of 
part  of  New  London,  the  town  :  the  town  is 
the  county-town  of  the  county  of  New  London. 
The  port  of  New  London  is  a  port  of  entry. 

The  town  occupies  the  western  shore  of  Pe- 
quod  Harbour,  long  since  called  the  River 
Thames  :  the  names  handed  down  from  the  In- 
dians are  Mameagand  Towawog,  by  both  which 
names  it  is  occasionally  described  by  historians. 
It  was  first  colonized  in  1666.  That  part  of  the 
ancient  town,  which  lies  on  Long- island  Sound, 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  295 

is  now  disjoined  from  the  remainder,  and  denomi- 
nated Waterford.  The  population,  in  1790,  wa*> 
4,600;  and  in  1800,  5,150.  The  grand  list,  for 
the  present  year,  is  44,209  dollars  and  52  cents. 
The  number  of  sheep  is  only  twenty. 

The  city,  which  was  incorporated  in  1784. 
contains  two  churches;  one  congregational,  and 
one  of  the  church  of  England. 

The  county  court-house  is  in  a  very  ruinous 
state ;  and  idle  boys  and  others  are  in  the  con- 
stant practice  of  making  it  more  so,  by  break- 
ing its  windows.  All  these  buildings  are  of 
wood. 

The  private  houses  are  in  general  less  showy 
than  those  of  Newhaven ;  but  several  of  them 
are  substantial  and  commodious.  A  stone  house, 
the  residence  of  the  Hon.  Judge  Perkins,  is  one  of 
the  few  that  escaped  the  flames  that  were  set  to 
the  village,  by  the  troops  under  General  Arnold, 
in  1781,  General  Huntington's  house  is  in  that 
style  of  architecture  called  the  cottage  style,  or 
cottage  ornee.  The  number  of  houses  may  be 
about  three  hundred ;  but  many  of  them  are 
small,  and  inhabited  by  poor  families. 

Beside  the  churches  and  court-house  alrcad) 
mentioned,  the  other  public  buildings  are  a 
freemason's  hall,  and  a  county-gaol  and 
poor-house.  In  the  latter,  of  which  the  ar- 


294         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

rangements   are    excellent,    there    are    twenty 
poor. 

The  city  is  abundantly  supplied  with  fish,  of 
which,  at  this  season,  lobsters  and  various  other 
kinds,  are  kept  alive  in  lears  or  wells,  attached 
to  the  wharfs.  At  a  large  breakfast-table  at  the 
hotel,  I  counted  eleven  dishes  of  fish,  placed  al- 
ternately with  as  many  dishes  of  butcher's  meat. 

The  exports  of  the  district  of  New  London, 
for  the  year  ending  September  30th,  1794, 
amounted  to  557,453  dollars ;  and  among  the 
items  w^ere  a  thousand  mules,  shipped  for  the 
West  Indies. 

The  value  of  the  shipping  belonging  to  New- 
London,  on  the  16th  of  May,  1807,  esti- 
mated at  fifty  dollars  per  ton,  amounted  to  four 
hundred  and  forty-eight  thousand,  eight  hundred 
and  five  dollars. 

Fifty-five  smacks,  of  the  estimated  value  of  a 
thousand  dollars  each,  belonged  at  the  same  time 
to  the  district,  and  were  employed  in  the  fish- 
eries. The  value  of  the  fish  taken,  on  an  aver- 
age by  each  smack,  is  1,550  dollars  annually. 

Value  of  fish  taken  by  fifty-five  smacks,  for 
one  year,  S  23,250, 

Do.  vessels  in  the  employ,  55,000. 

The  vessels  licensed  for  the  fisheries,  in  the 
district  of  New  London,  in  1806,  were  of  from 
fourteen  tons  to  one  hundred  and  seventv-seven. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  295 

The  dried  fish,  taken  by  the  vessels  belong- 
ing to  this  district,  and  fitted  out  last  season, 
amounted  to  29,272  quintals,  and  was  worth 
117,088  dollars. 

The   following    vessels  and  cargoes,    sailed 
for  Europe    the    last    year,    from  the  district 
of  New   London :  cargoes   taken  in  at    Green 
Island :  viz. 
Ship  Ann  Williams, 

valued  at  S  24,000 

Cargo  5,780  quintals  of  fish, 

at  8  4  23,120 

Provisions  and  one  month's 

wages,  1,000 

48,120 

Brig  Friendship,  4,000 

Cargo  1800  quintals  of  fish, 

at  4  dollars,  7,200 

50  barrels  of  oil,  700 

Provisions,  &c.  500 


Brig  Harlequin,  4,000 

Cargo  2,400  quintals  of  fish,   9,600 
Provisions,  &e.  550 


Brig  Dolphin,  5,500 

Cargo  2,480  quintals  offish,     9,920 
Provisions,  &c.  560 

15,980 


296     \   TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

Schooner  Thetis,  3,000 

Cargo  1,100  quintals  of  fish,  4,400 
Provisions,  &c.  450 


Schooner  Phoebe,  3,200 

Cargo  1,200  quintals  of  fish,    4,800 
Provisions,    &c.  350 

--       8,350 

Ship  Franklin,  6,500 

Cargo  3,300  quintals  of  fish,  13,200 
Provisions,  Sec.  800 

-     20,500 

Total  value  of  vessels, 

cargoes,  &c.  *  8  127,3  50 

*  These  statements,  and  the  schedule  that  follows 
them,  were  obtained  through  the  favour  of  a  gentleman 
by  whom  they  were  collected  for  the  information  of  the 
general  assembly  ;  but  I  am  apprehensive  that  there 
is  some  mistake  in  the  copying,  as  to  the  amount  of 
tonnage  for  1795,  as  it  now  appears  in  the  schedule.— 
From  a  certificate,  appended  to  the  account  of  the  ves- 
sels and  cargoes  for  1806,  it  appears  that  parts  of  the 
ships  Franklin  and  Ann  Williams  were  owned  in 
New  York,  with  parts  of  their  cargoes. 


OF  TJIE  UNITED  STATES- 


297 


Schedule  of  exports  and  imports — district  of 
New  London,  for  the  year  1807. 


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17 

162 

850,076 

89 

86,787, 

63 

113 

433,373 

80 

94,218, 

82 

123 

497,148 

76 

96,223, 

01 

148 

624,100 

88 

97,597, 

82 

163 

654,419 

93 

96,012, 

00 

150 

750,634 

93 

78,475, 

17 

150 

632,246 

99 

94,644, 

04 

135 

603,811 

63 

68,171, 

85 

148 

722,939 

81 

112,745, 

44 

130 

725,722, 

94  100 

156,635, 

48 

142 

814,868, 

19  109 

214,918, 

25 

.J2  8 


's.s^ 


q;  y     ~  JS 

2  S  "  ~ 

O  f  -r  CM 

g  o  i:  o 


10,392,  26 


12,261,  05 


12,823,  81 


a 

j= 


1 


1795 
1796 
1797 
1798 
1799 
1800 
1801 
1802 
1803 
1804 
1805 
1806 


JOHN  HUNTINGTON,  Collector, 
Collector's  Office,  New -London,  1807, 


VOL.  i. 


298 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


The  harbour  is  said  to  be  large,  safe  and  com- 
modious, with  five  fathoms  water.  It  is  defend- 
ed by  a  stockaded  fort,  on  the  same  side  with 
and  a  little  below  the  city,  called  Fort  Trumbull, 
and  garrisoned  with  a  sergeant's  guard  by 
the  United  States.  Fort  Griswold  is  neglect- 
ed, but  is  still  in  a  state  to  admit  of  a  speedy  re- 
pair. It  consists  in  a  brick  barrack,  defended 
by  a  ditch  and  four  bastions,  inclosing  a  spa- 
cious area. 

On  the  beach,  in  Waterford,  opposite  Fisher's 
Island,   some  expensive  salt  works  have  been 
erected,  by  Mr.  Fennel,  an  Englishman,   who, 
having  made  large  gains  in  the  United  States,  by 
the  display  of  his  powers  as  a  tragedian,  hoped 
much  from  investing  them  in  this  establishment. 
Much  salt  is  made  from  sea- water,  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Boston,  by  a  simple  though  some- 
what  tedious   process ;    but    Mr.   Fennel  had 
employed  an  apparatus,  considerably  more  ex- 
pensive, but  from  which  he  hoped  to  derive  a 
proportionate  degree  of  benefit  for  himself  and 
others.     Unhappily,  a  variety  of  pecuniary  diffi- 
culties arose  among  the  partners;   and  to  these 
were  added  some  serious  devastations  of  the  re- 
sistless ocean,  breaking  in  storms  upon  the  sands. 
These  causes,  uniting  themselves  together,  have 
occasioned   Mr.  Fennel   the   total  loss  of  the. 
large  sums  of  money  which  he  had  risked. 


OF  TIIE  UNITED  STATES.  299 

I  found  this  gentleman  at  New  London,  and 
accompanied  him  on  a  visit  to  the  scene  of  his 
misfortunes.  The  invention  on  which  he  had 
relied  is  this  :  salt  is  to  be  made  from  sea- water, 
by  the  aid  of  two  or  three  contrivance  s,  and  de- 
pendent on  evaporation  by  the  solar  heat.  In 
what  way  this  evaporation  is  usually  forwarded, 
I  shall  hereafter  have  occasion  to  describe  ;  but 
that  which  was  conceived  and  reduced  to  prac- 
tice by  a  Mr.  Fennel,  consists  in  alternately 
sinking  and  raising  by  machinery,  cylinders  of 
common  fishing- nets,  in  tubs  or  vats,  filled 
with  sea-water.  The  water  being  thus  con- 
tinually moved,  and  even  lifted  into  the  atmos- 
phere, on  the  multiplied  surfaces  of  the  meshes, 
necessarily  evaporates  with  increased  rapidity. 
Other  circumstances,  however,  may  perhaps  be 
less  favourable  in  this,  than  in  the  common 
method,  and  the  difference  of  expense  in  the  ap- 
paratus is  great. 

Be  this  as  it  may,  Mr.  Fennel  and  his  partners 
had  erected  nineteen  of  these  tubs  or  vats, 
which,  with  nineteen  wheels,  of  twelve  feet  di- 
ameter each,  and  various  other  works,  were 
erected  on  the  beach. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

Connecticut — Montville — Moheagan  Lands — 
Norwich — Lebanon . 

LEAVING  unexplored  the  towns  of  Groton 
and  Stonington,  which  stretch  from  the  Thames 
to  the  frontier  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence 
Plantations,  but  of  which  I  saw  reason  to  believe 
that  the  description  would  very  nearly  agree 
with  that  of  Lyme  and  New  London  ; — namely, 
that  they  consist  in  tracts  of  hilly  and  rocky 
pastures,  and  that  the  inhabitants  divide  their 
Cares  between  the  ocean,  the  fisheries  and 
the  soil; — leaving  these,  I  went  up  to  the  banks 
of  the  Thames,  toward  Norwich,  the  fifth  and 
last  of  the  cities  of  Connecticut,  as  they  have 
happened  to  fall  under  my  review. 

Between  New  London  and  Norwich,  is  a  tract 
of  land,  the  last  remnant  of  territory,  left  to  the 
last  remnant  of  a  people  once  numerous  and 
xvarlike  here,  and  called  Moheagan  Indians.  The 
land  is  a  narrow  slip,  lying  along  the  banks  of  the 
Thames,  above  the  mouth  of  Stony  Brook,  and 
between  the  former  river  and  the  town  of  Mont- 
ville ;  and  containing  two  thousand  seven  hun- 
hundred  acres. 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  kc.         30 \ 

In  1633,  the  Indian  population  of  Connecti- 
cut appears  to  have  been  equal  to  eight  persons 
for  each  square  mile.  The  Moheagans,  as  well 
as  the  other  nations,  were  numerous  in  this  pro- 
portion. In  1643,  Uncas,  their  chief,  fought  the 
Narragansetts,  on  the  Sachem's  Plain,  in  Norwich, 
with  from  five  to  six  hundred  followers.  In  1774, 
an  enumeration  of  the  Moheagans  made  them 
amount  to  one  thousand  six  hundred  and  sixty- 
three  souls.  In  1797,  the  survivors  were  sup- 
posed to  be  four  hundred.  Those  now  remain- 
ing, on  the  Moheagan  Lands,  arc  sixty-nine  in 
number ;  but  a  part  of  their  proper  population 
emigrated,  some  time  since,  under  the  charge  of 
Mr.  Occome,  a  Moheagan  preacher,  to  Brother- 
ton,  an  Indian  village  adjoining  Stockbridge,  in 
New  York.  But  the  entire  population  of  Bro- 
therton  was  stated,  more  than  ten  years  ago,  at 
only  a  hundred  and  fifty  souls. 

The  sixty-nine  souls  remaining  comprehend, 
for  the  most  part,  very  aged  persons,  widows  and 
fatherless  children.  The  young  men  go  to  sea, 
and  die.  The  community  is  under  the  care  of 
guardians,  or  superintendants,  appointed  by  the 
assembly ;  and  is  further  governed  by  legislative 
provisions,  designed  both  to  protect  it,  and  to 
prevent  its  necessities  from  becoming  burden- 
some to  the  public.  A  part  of  the  lands  are  oc- 
cupied by  the  Indians  themselves,  and  a  part  by 


302        TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

their  tenants ;  the  rents  going  into  a  common 
fund,  from  which  they  derive  individually  a  small 
annual  sum  in  money.  A  part  of  the  lands  late- 
ly belonging  to  them  have  been  sold,  under  the 
authority  of  the  legislature,  and  the  proceeds  ap- 
plied, in  part  to  building  wooden  houses  for  their 
accommodation,  and  in  part  to  the  establishment 
of  a  small  permanent  fund.  The  houses,  which 
contain  two  rooms  each,  several  of  the  owners  let 
to  white  people,  contenting  themselves  with 
wigwams,  or  more  properly  with  huts ;  for  the 
hut  of  the  Moheagan,  in  his  modern  indigence, 
is  not  to  be  compared  with  the  wigwam  of  his 
forefathers.  Mr.  Haughton,  one  of  the  guar- 
dians of  the  Indians,  did  me  the  favour  to  carry 
me  to  several  of  their  houses,  and  over  their 
lands. 

Montville  was  formerly  a  part  of  New  Lon- 
don. It  has  one  ecclesiastical  and  school  society 
within  itself,  in  which  there  are  nine  schools ; 
and  two  others,  of  which  parts  belong  to  the  ad- 
joining towns.  New  Salem  extends  into  Bozra. 
Almost  the  whole  population  is  united  in  the 
congregational  persuasion  in  matters  of  religion, 
and  in  federalism  in  politics.  The  soil  is  favour, 
able  to  grazing,  and  the  produce  sent  out  of  the 
town  is  principally  butter  and  cheese.  Its  average 
crops  of  rye  amount  to  thirty-five  bushels  per 
acre.  The  road,  from  New  London,  which  is 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.          305 

exceedingly  good,  runs  either  through  woods, 
or  along  the  edge  of  lofty  bunks,  that  overlook  the 
river.  By  the  way  side,  one  or  two  solitary 
grave- stones  present  themselves  on  the  farms. 
Opposite  Montville,  in  Groton,  is  a  rocky  moun- 
tain ;  a  cavern  in  which  hears  the  name  of  Un- 
cas's  Chair.  It  is  the  place  of  shelter  to  which 
he  fled,  on  a  surprise  by  the  Pequots.  When 
the  danger  was  over,  an  ancestor  of  Mr.  Haugh- 
ton's  went  over  the  river  to  him  in  a  canoe,  and 
brought  him  safely  back  to  his  domain.  In  gra- 
titude, he  presented  his  deliverer  with  a  tract  of 
land. 

What  is  called  the  Thames  is  no  other  than 
the  lower  portion  of  the  Willamantic,  which, 
flowing  out  of  a  small,  but  deep  lake  or  pond, 
in  Stafford,  is  joined  at  Norwich  by  the  Yantic, 
a  river  there  called  the  little  river.  At  the  same- 
place,  the  Willamantic  is  called  the  Shetuc- 
ket.  Before  its  confluence  with  the  Yantic 
it  is  of  no  magnitude ;  but,  immediately  at  this 
point,  it  is  able  to  maintain  a  sea-port,  that  is 
possessed  of  from  four  to  five  thousand  tons 
of  shipping. 

The  city  of  Norwich  comprehends  a  certain 
portion  of  the  town,  lying  on  the  banks  of  the  na- 
vigable part  of  the  river,  and  including  the  so- 
ciety of  Chelsea,  otherwise  called  Norwich  - 
landing.  It  was  incorporated  in  1784 ;  and,  in 


304         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

common  with  almost  all  the  other  settlements  in 
the  United  States,  its  advance,   since  the  year 
1792,  has  been  rapid.    A  neck  of  land,  of  great 
value  at  the  present  moment,  was  bought,  only  a 
few  years  since,  for  a  quantity  of  lumber,  which 
had    been    refused   a   purchaser   at   the  price 
of  six  dollars.     Ship-building  is  one  of  the  em- 
ployments here,;  and  there  are  usually  four  or 
five  vessels  on  the  stocks.    Many  manufactures 
are  pursued  in  the  town  and  city ;   such  as  of 
stockings,  clocks  and  watches,  buttons,  earthen- 
ware, chocolate  and  wire.     The  rivers  abound 
in  mill-seats    many  of  which  are  occupied  by 
oil,  fulling,  grist  and  saw-mills,  and  iron- works. 
The  public  buildings  are  an   academy  or  gram- 
mar-school, one  congregational  church,  and  one 
of  the  church  of  England.     The  church  of  En- 
gland was  formerly  maintained  by  the  society 
for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel.     The  con- 
gregationalists  pay  no  tax  for  the  support  of  their 
clergyman,  the  funds  for  that   purpose    being 
drawn  from  the  rents  received  for  the  pews. 
This  city,  like  that  of  New  London,  lies  on  one 
of  the  great  roads  between  New  York  and  Bos- 
ton. 

Contiguous  to  the  wharfs  are  two  scenes  of  ro- 
mantic beauty,  one  on  the  right  and  the  other  on 
the  left :  on  the  left,  a  lofty  knoll,  overlooking  the 
river,  above  and  below,  and  covered  with  the 
4 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  305 

dwarf  flowering  laurel  kalmia  angustifolia.* 
Down  the  river  is  the  port,  with  its  shipping ; 
and  up,  the  verdant  and  shady  banks  of  the  She- 
tucket,  over  which  there  is  a  bridge,  a  hundred 
and  twenty-four  feet  in  length.  The  entire  floor- 
ing is  rested  on  the  abutments :  no  piers  nortressels, 
placed  in  the  channel,  being  found  able  to  resist 
the  floods  that  swell  this  river  in  the  spring.  On 
the  knoll,  the  inhabitants  assemble,  on  their  ho- 
liday of  the  Fourth  of  July,  or  Independent  or 
Independence  Day. 

On  the  right,  are  the  falls  of  the  little  river, 
ten  or  twelve  feet  deep,  and  having  much  variety 
and  beauty.  At  their  feet  are  several  of  the 
holes  common  in  such  situations,  and  which  are 
produced  by  the  circular  motion  of  stones,  pro- 
longed for  ages.  If  a  stone  happens  to  find  a 
lodgment  on  a  bed  of  rock,  the  torrent,  in  con- 
tinually attempting  to  drive  it  onward,  only  com- 

*  The  honey,  collected  by  bees  from  the  flower  of  this 
vegetable,  is  said  to  be  of  a  poisonous  quality. — De- 
coctions of  the  leaves  have  been  tried  with  success  in 
diarrhoea;  but  too  strong  a  dose  induces  vertigo.  Itch 
is  cured  by  an  external  application  of  the  same.  Dr. 
Thomas's  Inaugural  Dissertation,  Philadelphia,  1802. 
Scald  head  has  be£n  cured  by  an  ointment  prepared 
from  the  leaves.  Dr.  Barton's  Collections  for  a  Ma- 
teria  Medica.  It  is  pretended  that  death  has  Followed 
on  eating  the  flesh  of  pheasants  that  have  fed  on  the 
leaves  of  the  broad-leaved  laurel  or  calico-tree,  kal- 
mia  latifolia.  New  York  Med.  Repos.  Vol.  i. 
VOL.  I,  o 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

municates  a  rotatory  motion,  by  means  of  which 
it  soon  wears  for  itself  a  deeper  and  securer  cell. 
Within  this  cell,  the  continued  motion  occa- 
sions the  stone  to  hollow  out  a  still  wider 
circle,  and  still  deeper  cavity.  Some  of  the 
cavities,  at  these  falls,  are  said  to  be  six  feet 
deep.  They  are  often  found  in  rocks  that  are 
below  cataracts,  though  the  water  never  rises  to 
their  level  but  in  the  time  of  floods  ;  and  often  in 
those,  to  the  level  of  which  the  water,  robbed  of 
its  ancient  volume,  no  longer  rises  at  all. 

On  a  woody  eminence  adjacent,  where  I  was 
led  by  Mr.  Perkins,  of  Norwich,  (a  gentleman 
to  whose  cordial  manners  and  disposition  I  am 
not  in  this  instance  only  indebted,)  are  the  graves 
of  the  Moheagans.  The  spot,  which  is  nearly 
overgrown  with  trees  and  shrubs,  overhangs  the 
river,  conformably  with  the  constant  practice  of 
the  Indians,  who  always  bury  on  the  banks  of  a 
river,  or  on  the  margin  of  lakes  or  the  ocean.  Se- 
veral mossy  stones,  hewn,  decorated  and  in- 
scribed,  by  English  artists,  distinguish  the  graves 
of  particulars ;  but  especially  of  the  Uncases, 
members  of  the  family  in  which  was  the  heredi- 
tary chieftainship,  but  which  is  now  extinct.  On 
one,  the  inscription  begins  with  Here  lies  the 
second  and  beloved  son  of  his  father,  John  Uncos, 
&c — another  has  this :  In  memory  of  Elizabeth 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  3Q7 

Joquib,  the  daughter  of  Mahomet,  great  grand- 
child of  the  first  Uncas ,  Sachem  of  the  Mo/iea- 
gans,  -who  died  July  5,  1750,  aged  33  years. — 
But  this  father  of  Elizabeth  Joquib,  and  great 
grandchild  of  the  first  Uncas,  was  surely  never 
baptized;  he  had  else  been  named  Seth  or 
Ebenezcr,  rather  than  Mahomet.  It  is  observable, 
that  the  grave-stones  of  the  Uncases,  executed, 
like  the  rest,  at  the  charge  and  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Indians,  are  marked  with  sculptured 
suns ;  whence  it  may  be  suspected  that  the 
chiefs  of  the  Northern  Indians,  like  those  of  the 
Southern,  claimed,  if  not  an  affinity  with  that  lu- 
minary, at  least  to  be  typified  by  his  beams. — A 
modern  Uncas,  who  died  in  the  prime  of  life, 
and  who  is  still  remembered  in  this  neighbour- 
hood, is  thus  celebrated,  on  one  of  the  stones : 

«  SAMUEL  UNCAS. 

"  For  beauty,  wit,  for  sterling  sense, 

"  For  temper  mild,  for  eloquence, 

"  For  courage  bold,  for  things  ivaureegan, 

"  He  was  the  glory  of  Moheagan : 

"  Whose  death  has  caused  great  lamentation, 

"  Both  in  the  English  and  the  Indian  nation."* 

*  These  lines  were  written  by  Dr.  Tracy,  of  Norwich.  TTrings 
•waweegan  imply,  as  I  am  informed,  clothes,  household  furniture, 
&c.  of  a  costly  description.  Samuel  Uncas  was  therefore  a  man  of 
substance ;  or,  in  the  phrase  of  the  colonists,  af  ood  liver. 


308         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

While  the  last  of  the  Uncases  remained,  the  Mo- 
heagans  felt  some  pride  of  condition  ;  but,  since 
his  death,  they  have  become  dispirited,  and  have 
rapidly  decayed.  Mr.  Haughton,  of  Montville, 
assured  me,  that  his  father  remembered  them, 
when  they  had  a  delight  in  the  bow  and  arrow, 
and  possessed  two  hundred  men  that  could  use 
it ;  but  they  have  now  no  Indian  practice  left, 
except  that  of  discussing  their  affairs  in  council. 
The  few  Indians,  that  remain  in  Connecticut,  are 
severally  settled  on  the  Moheagan  lands,  in  Sto- 
nington,  in  Farmington,  and  at  Scaticook  ;  in  ad- 
dition to  whom  there  is  a  little  village  of  Ne- 
hantics,  in  or  near  Danbury.* 

*  The  estimate,  at  page  299,  supposes  a  population  of 
40,000  souls  upon  a  surface  of  something  less  than  five 
thousand  square  miles.  Dr.  Trumbull  allows  but  six- 
teen or  twenty  thousand ;  but  his  data  appear  to  afford 
a  larger  result.  In  the  year  1638,  within  the  present 
limits  of  Windsor,  Hartford,  Wethersfield  and  Mid- 
dletown,  there  were  understood  to  be  from  three  to 
four  thousand  Jighting-men  ;  and,  in  1670,  Windsor  alone 
is  expressly  stated  to  have  had  two  thousand,  it  being 
computed  that  the  Indian  fighting-men  were  to  the 
English  as  nineteen  to  one.  But  three  or  four  thousand 
fighting  men  supposes  a  population  of  fifteen  or  twenty 
thousand  souls,  within  only  those  limits  that  are  above 
described. 

Nor  is  the  allowance  of  eight  souls  to  a  square  mile, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut,  and  on  the  neighbouring 
coasts,  at  absolute  variance  with  the  estimate  of  Mr. 


OF  THE  UXITED  STATES.  3Q9 

On  the  banks  of  the  Quinnibaug,  the  shistic 
stratums,  which,  in  New  England,  are  generally 
inclined,  (the  dip  being  to  the  east,)  are  seen  in  a 
vertical  position.  In  this  neighbourhood,  some 
of  the  farmers  are  partial  to  a  remarkable  va- 
riety of  sheep,  which  they  call  the  otter-sheep. 
As  in  the  otter,  its  fore  legs  are  bowed  outward ; 
and  this  to  such  a  degree,  that  the  animal  appears 
to  walk  upon  its  knees.  In  other  respects,  it  is 
a  well  made  sheep,  of  a  small  size.  From  the 
embarrassment  with  which  it  moves,  it  may  be 
supposed  sedentary,  and  disposed  to  fatten ;  but 
one  of  its  recommendations  has  been,  its  inabi- 
lity to  leap  the  fences.  The  fences,  however, 
are  walls  of  uncemented  stones  ;  and  the  sheep, 
unable  to  leap  them,  is  obliged  to  climb,  and  is 
hence  continually  pullingthem  down.  From  the  few 
persons  that  are  acquainted  with  this  sheep  or  its 

Jefferson,  in  his  Notes  on  Virginia,  (agreed  to  by  Dr. 
Williams,  in  his  History  of  Vermont,)  who  allows  but 
one  soul  to  each  square  mile,  for  the  total  Indian  po- 
pulation of  North  America ;  for,  admitting  this  to  be 
just,  still  a  particular  tract  of  country,  extraordinarily 
favourable  to  subsistence,  and  such,  even  to  the  In- 
dians, was  that  which  comprises  the  banks  of 
the  Connecticut.  Many  others  had  dispropor- 
tionate shares  of  the  whole  number  ;  and  some 
were  comparatively  solitudes.  M.  Volney,  upon  this 
subject,  presents  us  only  with  the  most  unwarrantable 
deductions. 


310        TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

history,  I  have  uniformly  understood  it  to  be  a 
tradition,  that  it  originated  on  the  banks  of  a  bo- 
dy of  water,  in  Brimfield,  in  Massachusetts. 
The  water  once  abounded  in  otters ;  and  the  ewes, 
feeding  on  its  banks,  produced,  it  is  said,  otter- 
legged  lambs  :  but,  this  fact  admitted,  physiolo- 
gists will  find  it  difficult  to  believe,  that  an  acciden- 
tal deformity,  in  this,  as  in  any  other  instance, 
can  be  capable  of  perpetuation.  Yet  farmers  buy 
otter-sheep,  and  breed  otter- sheep  from  them  ; 
and,  what  is  extraordinary,  when  a  lusus  nature 
presents  itself  in  the  breed,  it  consists  in  a  straight- 
legged  sheep.  The  lambs  of  an  otter-ewe  will  or- 
dinarily  be  otter-sheep,  but  they  are  sometimes 
straight-legged.  Of  twin-lambs,  one  will  often 
be  straight- legged.  In  the  three  or  four  other 
flocks  that  I  have  seen,  there  have  been  uniform- 
ly a  certain  number  of  straight-legged  sheep. 

From  Norwich  to  Lebanon,  the  town  above 
it,  on  the  north-west,  there  is  a  fertile  and  well- 
settled  country.  The  road  leads  along  lofty  pas- 
ture-lands that  command,  on  the  nor  h-east,  the  val- 
ley of  the  Willamantic,  and  through  that  particu- 
lar society  in  Lebanon  which  is  called  Lebanon. 
The  town  includes  three  others,  lying  to  the 
westward,  and  called  Goshen,  Exeter  and  Co- 
lumbia. In  the  society  of  Lebanon,  the  village 
comprises  some  well  built  houses  of  wood,  with 
a  large  and  handsome  church  of  red  brick,  with 


OF  THE  W1TED     STATES. 

a  spire,  and  which  is  not  yet  wholly  finished.  Its 
cost  is  estimated  at  six  thousand  dollars.  Lands, 
in  Lebanon,  are  generally  worth  from  sixty  to 
seventy  dollars  per  acre. 

The  lands  in  Connecticut  obtain,  in  almost 
all  situations,  a  good  price  ;  and  it  appears  not  to 
be  too  high  an  estimate  to  take  their  average  va- 
lue at  from  forty  to  fifty  dollars  per  acre.     In 
Berlin,  lands  on  the  road  side  can  be  sold  at  a 
hundred   dollars  per  acre ;    and    in   the   same 
neighbourhood,    entire  farms,    including    por- 
tions  of    rocky    wood-lands,    are  worth  forty 
dollars  per  acre.     It  is  said  to  be  demonstrated, 
that  some  of  the  best  mo  wing- lands  in  Connec- 
ticut are  twice  as  profitable  as  the  best  wheat- 
lands  in  New  York.    Connecticut  raises  large 
quantities  of  flax,  maize,  rye   and  pompions. 
Hemp,    oats,  barley  and  wheat,  and  especially 
the    last,   are    objects   of  inferior   magnitude. 
Wheat  is  raised  wherever  it  is  supposed  possi- 
ble to  do  so,  in  safety  from  the  insect  common- 
ly called  the  Hessian  fly.    The  chief  agricultural 
wealth   consists  in  the  pastures  and  mowing- 
lands.   In  1800,  for  the  encouragement  of  the 
raising  of  sheep,  an  act  passed  the  assembly, 
granting  a  deduction,  from  the  amount  of  rata- 
ble property,  of  seventy-five   cents  for   shorn 
sheep,  ten  months  old,  and  sheared  in  the  season 
preceding  the  making  out  of  the  list.    A  little 
calculation  will  show  us,  that  the  annual  premi- 


312 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


um  held  out  to  the  farmer,  in  consequence  of 
this  effort  of  profound  and  liberal  policy,  actu- 
ally amounts  to  ten  cents  and  a  half  per  score  of 
sheep.* 

In  Lebanon  is  the  modest  mansion  of  His 
Excellency  Governor  Trumbull,  in  whom  an 
unassuming,  gentlemanly  and  prepossessing  de- 
portment is  united  with  a  sound  understanding 
and  decided  plan  of  action.  It  is  highly  credita- 
ble to  him,  that  placed  at  the  head  of  a  govern- 
ment, wearing  that  dangerous  exterior,  the  pre- 
tence to  extraordinary  piety  and  religion,  and 
surrounded  by  governments  less  distinguished 

*  This  specimen  of  law-making  can  only  be  equal- 
led by  another,  to  be  found  in  the  same  collection.  In 
the  year  1799,  an  act  passed  the  assembly,  to  incorpo- 
rate what  is  intimated,  in  the  preamble,  to  be  a  literary 
society^  but  which  is  nevertheless  styled  the  Connecti- 
cut Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences ;  and  by  the  fourth 
and  last  section  of  the  act,  "  it  is  further  enacted.  That 
"  this  act,  or  any  part  thereof,  if  found  inadequate  or 
"  inconvenient,  may  be  altered,  amended  or  repealed." 
— But,  why  did  the  assembly  assert  its  undoubted 
prerogative,  in  respect  of  all  its  acts,  on  the  sole  occa- 
sion of  this  particular  act  ?  Was  the  section  inserted 
by  the  members  of  the  incorporation,  or  by  some  nota- 
ble constitutionalist  and  patriot?  Whether  it  were  in- 
serted by  the  one  or  the  other,  it  was  inserted  to  please 
or  to  pacify  a  powerful  portion  of  the  community ;  a 
portion  which  hates  the  letters  and  science,  as  connect- 
ing these  with  the  established  religion,  and  the  esta 
blished  religion  with  federal  politics. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

in  this  respect,  his  speeches  and  public  papers 
are  more  free  than,  any  others  that  I  am  acquaint- 
ed with,  from  pulpit-topics.  They  are  at  the 
same  time  equally  to  be  praised  for  their  freedom 
from  philosophical  disquisition,  and  confinement 
to  matters  of  business ;  and  for  the  just  concep- 
tion which  they  hence  discover  in  their  author, 
that  when  his  fellow-citizens  placed  him  in  the 
chair  of  government,  they  did  not  place  him  in 
the  chair  of  a  professor.  Another  subject  of  im- 
mortal honour  to  his  memory,  and  which,  at  the 
same  time  evinces,  that  a  governor  of  Connec- 
ticut, limited  as  we  have  seen  his  powers  to  be, 
is  not  absolutely  incapable  of  doing  a  public  ser- 
vice, is  the  part  that  he  performed  on  an  occasion 
that  presented  itself  some  time  after  I  left  the  re- 
public : — it  was  Governor  Trumbull  alone,  that 
when  the  government  of  the  United  States,  in 
the  very  face  of  the  letter  of  the  constitution,  as- 
sumed to  itself  the  command  of  the  militias  of 
the  particular  states; — it  was  Governor  Trumbull 
alone  that  had  the  penetration  to  detect  the 
amazing  mistake,  or  the  virtue,  detecting  it,  to 
expose  it,  and  to  take  the  stand  it  called  for.* 

*  When  I  visited  Connecticut,  Governor  Trumbull 
was  alive.    He  died  on  the  7th  day   of  August,   1809. 
The   tranaction,    of    which   I  have  in  a  manner  antici- 
pated the  date,  took  place  early  in  the  spring  of  1809. 
VOL.  I.  R  r 


CHAPTER  XXXIIL 

Connecticut  —  Windham  —  Willington. 

ON  the  northern  boundary  of  Connecticut, 
is  Stafford,  a  town  abounding  in  iron  -ore,  and 
in  which,  on  the  banks  of  the  Willamantic,  there 
is  a  chalybeate  spring.  Between  Lebanon  and 
Stafford,  I  passed  through  Windham  and  Wil- 


Windham  is  the  county  town  of  the  county  of 
Windham  ;  and  its  principal  village,  were  it  not 
built  of  wood,  might  be  said  to  bear  the  general 
appearance  of  a  small  English  market-town.  It 
contains  a  court-house,  gaol,  grammar-school 
and  congregational  church. 

Having  expressed  to  the  Honourable  Judge 
Swift,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court, 
and  an  inhabitant  of  Windham,  a  wish  to  visit 
the  gaol,  that  gentleman  was  so  obliging  as  to 
accompany  me  there.  On  ascending  into  one  of 
the  apartments  occupied  by  the  prisoners,  we 
found  in  it  three  white  men  and  one  black.  Two 
of  the  white  men  were  charged  with  felonies. 
The  black  man  stood  in  a  corner  of  the  room. 


TRAVELS  THROrc.TI  PART,  kc 

at  a  humble  distance  ;  but  two  of  the  white 
men  were  sitting  on  the  side  of  a  bed,  where 
continuing  to  sit,  they  saluted  the  judge  with  a 
friendly  nod,  and  how  do  yc  ?  and  held  out  their 
hands,  which  common  courtesy  there  fore  required 
him  to  shake.  The  walls  of  the  gaol  are  of  tri- 
ple or  quadruple  plank,  and  are  thought  to  be 
strong.  Judge  Swift  possesses  a  very  handsome 
residence,  a  little  out  of  the  village.  The  house 
stands  in  the  middle  of  a  lawn,  and  in  that  and 
other  respects  bears  more  resemblance  to  an 
English  gentleman's  country  residence  than  any 
other  that  I  saw  in  Connecticut.  It  commands 
one  of  those  prospects  that  are  not  only  exten- 
sive but  rich,  though  without  water.  At  the  inn 
in  Windham,  I  met  the  Reverend  Mr.  Samuel 
Austin,  of  Newhaven,  who  had  arrived  in  a  cot- 
ton morning-gown,  to  preach  before  a  lodge  of 
freemasons  on  the  following  day,  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  June. 

Stopping  for  a  short  time  in  Willington, 
the  town  that  lies  between  Windham  and 
Stafford,  and  asking  for  something  at  an  inn,  the 
mistresscalled  upon  Minerva  to  fetch  it;  and  I  af- 
terward found  that  names,  of  this  and  other  pro- 
fane origins,  are  common  among  the  female  part 
of  the  community  in  New  England  ;  while  ihose 
borne  by  the  male  are  almost  uniiormly  scrip- 
tural :  a  few  of  the  old  puritanic  inventions  re- 
main ;  as  Return,  Increase,  &.C.  but  Elizur, 


316         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

f 

Abner,  Jared  and  Enoch,  are  amongthe  most  com- 
mon ;  always  saving  Jonathan,  which  is  known 
to  be  synonymous  with  New  England. 

In  Willington,  the  following  manuscript  ad- 
vertisement met  my  eye : 

"  Willington,  June  1st,  180T. 

"  The  subscribers  wish  to  informe  the  publick,  that 
"  we  are  erected  on  the  blue  Dyes  at  Peck's  Miles ;  and 
"  we  would  thank  the  peoblick  for  their  custome." 

"  Emery  White. 

"   William  Ramsay." 

It  would  be  idle  to  notice,  as  in  this  instance, 
the  defects  of  rustic  orthography,  except  with 
the  view  of  correcting  any  false  impression  that 
may  be  made  on  the  reader's  mind,  by  my  ac- 
count of  the  schools  in  Connecticut.  I 
have  already  said,  that  the  benefit  is  limited. 
The  truth  is,  that  the  schooling,  as  from  the  na- 
ture of  the  thing  it  must  be,  though  very  ge- 
neral, is  very  humble.  In  the  bill  of  an  inn- 
keeper and  physician,  one  of  the  items  charged 
me  was,  Medsonfor  yourhors. 

Stafford  Springs  are  distant  about  twenty 
miles  from  the  village  of  Windham.  In  the 
course  of  the  few  days  that  I  spent  at  them,  I 
made  a  retrogade  journey  into  Willington,  to  an 
anabaptist  meeting-house. 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

The  building  had  never  been  the  most  sump- 
tuous, and  it  was  now  much  out  of  repair.  The 
exterior  presented  unpainted  boards  and  broken 
windows.  On  entering,  a  seat  was  immediately 
offered  me,  and  I  accepted  it.  At  my  back  was 
the  gallery  that  fronted  the  pulpit,  and  which, 
therefore,  by  fixed  usage,  contained  the  singers, 
and  these,  of  course,  were  the  fairest  of  the  nymphs 
and  the  comeliest  of  the  swains.  One  circum- 
stance long  distressed  me.  All  the  swains,  as 
is  common  with  all  the  swains  in  Connecticut, 
chewed  tobacco.  In  consequence,  they  had  an 
overflowing  secretion  of  saliva  to  discharge.  It 
was  discharged,  as  is  usual  in  like  circumstan- 
ces, on  the  floor  of  the  middle  aisle ;  but,  as 
there  was  only  the  wainscot  of  the  pew  between 
myself  and  the  aisle,  ejection  after  ejection,  in- 
cessant from  twenty  mouths,  kept  me  in  constant 
alarm.  Indeed,  I  soon  perceived  that  the  skill 
of  my  friends  above  was  exquisite,  and  that  the 
black  juice,  which  presently  covered  the  floor  of 
the  aisle,  was  always  directed  with  so  true  an  aim, 
as  to  arrive  precisely  at  its  place — I  ought  to  suy 
its  precise  point — of  destination.  But,  alas !  the 
demonstrations  of  experience  and  reason  do  not 
always  remove,  as  they  ought,  the  misgivings  of 
our  hearts. 

Meanwhile,  my  eyes  and  ears  had  still  other 
employment.    Those  who  filled  the  pews  below 


313  TRAVELS  THROUGH  I'AllT 

were  generally  elderly.  The  day  was  warm, 
but  damp,  and  even  rainy.  Under  the  pulpit, 
on  the  left,  sat  a  gentleman  with  a  patch  on  one 
eye.  Behind  him,  two  panes  of  glass  were  out. 
To  keep  the  wind  from  his  neck,  his  hat  was 
thrust  through  one  of  the  apertures ;  and  his 
coat,  which  the  general  temperature  of  his  body 
enabled  him  to  dispense  with,  was  taken  off,  and 
applied  to  the  other.  Thus,  he  sat  in  his  shirt 
sleeves ;  but,  to  prevent  a  cold  in  his  head,  that 
part  was  covered  with  a  coloured  handkerchief. 
In  a  corner,  sat  a  neighbour,  with  his  coat  hung 
over  his  arm  ;  and  those  that  were  near  the  win- 
dows had  in  most  instances  guarded  their  heads 
with  handkerchiefs. 

After  hymns  and  a  long  prayer,  in  which,  as 
is  usual  in  extemporaneous  prayer,  there  was  a 
sermon  to  the  deity,  informing  him  of  all  his 
attributes,  and  of  some  of  the  latest  news  on 
earth,  the  preacher  announced  his  text,  which 
was  no  other  than  that  very  celebrated  one  in 
the  book  of  Genesis,  The  sceptre  shall  not  de- 
part from  Judah,  nor  a  lawgiver  from  between 
his  feet,  until  Shiloh  come.* 

I  regretted  for  a  moment,  the  choice.  I  sup- 
posed, that  in  a  sermon  drawn  from  this  text, 
the  preacher  would  take  the  ordinary  route,  and 

*  Genesis,  chap.  xlix.  v.  10: 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATED 

employ  biblical  learning  in  making  it  appear, 
that  the  Shiloh  of  the  prophecy  is  the  Messiah 
of  the  New  Testament,  and  that  in  the  Messiah 
the  prophecy  was  fulfilled ;  and,  ou  points  of 
biblical  learning,  I  suspected  that  the  divine  to 
whom  I  was  to  listen  would  but  repeat  wliat 
other  divines  had  said  before,  and  had  said  much 
better  than  he  was  likely  to  say  them. 

I  was  mistaken.  The  preacher  took  a  path 
of  his  own,  and  one  that  I  believe  had  some  ori- 
ginality ;  making  no  other  use  of  his  text  than 
to  infer  from  it  the  fore-knowledge  of  the  deity. 
The  prophecy,  as  the  reader  will  remember,  is 
one  of  a  series  delivered  by  Jacob  to  his  sons;  and, 
tliis  point  being  explained,  the  preacher  proceed- 
ed :  "  You  see,  the  way  that  the  old  man  come  to 
"  know  this  was,  that  God  tell'd  him — God 
*'  knows  every  thing,  and  so  he  tell'd  him  all 
"  what  all  his  sons  would  come  to.  You  see, 
"  the  old  man  knew  that  he  was  come  to  die — 
"  he  felt,  somehow,  that  he  was  come  to  die — 
"  (perhaps  God  tell'd  him — I  don't  know  in 
"  particular — it  does  not  seem  to  be  set  down; — 
"  but,  somehow,  the  old  man,  he  knew  that  his 
"  time  was  come  for  him  to  die) — so,  you  see,  he 
"  sent  for  all  his  sons — for  all  his  sons — all  of 
"  'em — some  were  out  in  the  fields — some  in 
"  barn — no  matter — thev  all  had  to  come — 


320 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 


"  and  then  he  tell'd  'em  every  thing — tell'd 
"  'em  every  thing — all  what  they'd  do  !  You 
"  see  God  knows  every  thing — so  he  tell'd  the 
"  old  man  every  thing — so  then  the  old  man 
"  tell'd  them  every  thing — all  what  they'd  do — 
"  in  all  their  lives — and  all  what  their  children 
"  would  do  ; — for  God  knows  every  thing — and 
"  he  tell'd  the  old  man  every  thing — every  one 
"  thing ! — Simeon  and  Levi  are  brethren — but 
"  they  had  instruments  of  cruelty  in  their  habi- 
"  tations — the  old  man  did  not  like  'em — 0  my 
"  soul,  says  he,  come  not  thou  into  their  secret ! 
"  that  is,  don't  have  any  to  do  with  'em — for 
"  they  were  cruel  men,  you  see — in  their  anger 
"  they  slew  a  man,  and  in  their  self-will  they 
"  digged  down  a  wall. 

"  Well,  then,  the  old  man,  he  comes  next  to 
'''  Judah — and  Judah  seems  to  be  a  great  favour- 
"  He  ! — Thy  hand  shall  be  in  the  neck  of  thine  ene~ 
"  mies  ;  thy  father's  children  shall  bow  down  be- 
"  fore  thee.  Well,  and  so  it  happened,  all  what 
"  the  old  man  tell'd  'em — all  happened  just  as 
k'  he  tell'd  'em — he  did  not  tell  'em  no  lies — 
"  for  God  tell'd  him  every  thingw-and  God  did 
"  not  tell  the  old  man  any  lies-^n|ot  any  lies  at 
"  all — it  all  happened,  as  you'll- ^ee — in — in — 
"  in — well  it's  no  matter — I  can't  find  the 
"  places  just  now — (I  could  look  'em  up.) 
1 


OF  THE  tJNITWD  STATES.  321 

"  The  sceptre  shall  not  depart  from  Judah— 
"  that  is,  you  see,  the  old  man  tell'd  Judah  how 
"  he  should  be  a  king,  and  how  all  his  children 
"  should  be  kings.  —  You  see  a  sceptre's  a  — 
"  a  thing  that  a  king  always  carries  with  him 
"  (I  never  saw  a  king)  —  a  sceptre  is  a  kind  of  a 
"  staff,  you  see  —  it's  made  with  several  things 
"  (I  could  look  'em  up)  —  kivered  all  over  with 
"  silver  and  gold  (I  never  saw  a  sceptre.)  —  You 
"  see,  your  great  people,  they  carry  different 
"  sorts  of  tilings,  to  show  what  they  -are  —  so, 
"  you  see,  a  king  he  carries  a  sceptre—  like,  as  I 
"  am  told,  a  president  of  a  college,  (I  never  saw  a 
"  president  of  a  college,)  he  carries  a  great  staff— 
"  so,  you  see,  they  all  carry,  some  one  thing, 
"  some  another—  I  don't  know  what  they  are  — 
*  I  could  look  'em  up. 

"  Judah1  s  a  lion's  whelp  —  he  stooped  down,  he 
"  couched  as  a  lion,  and  as  an  old  Hon.—  You 
"  see,  that  means  how  Judah  should  be  very 
"  great  —  you  see,  a  lion's  called  the  king  of 
"  beasts  —  a  lion  —  (I  never  saw  a  lion)  —  it's  a 
"  great  beast  —  I  don't  know  in  particular—  I 
"  could  look  it  up  —  great  teeth  ! 

"  Zebulun  shall  dwell  at  the  haven  of  'the  sea. 
"  You  see,  Zebulun,  he  would  be  ibnd 


"  gation.*  The  old  mantell'd  him  he  \vmild--- 

*  The  word   navigation  is  used  in  New  England  !«<• 
shififiing,  and  for  seafaring. 

VOL.     I.  S    S 


322         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

"  and  he  knew — God  tell'd  him  every  thing.  You 
"  see,  different  children  take  a  different  turn— 
"  one  likes  one  thing,  and  another  likes  another. 
"  So,  you  see,  the  old  man,  he  tell'd  Zebulun 
"  how  he'd  live  near  the  sea — and  how  he'd  have 
"  a  great  many  ships — and  he  tell'd  no  lies." 

Coming  at  length  to  the  close  of  the  prophe- 
cies, the  preacher  dwelt  a  little  upon  the  death 
and  burial  of  the  patriarch.  The  embalming, 
mentioned  in  the  chapter  that  succeeds  that  from 
which  he  had  taken  his  text,  occupied  him  for 
a  few  minutes  : — "  Embalming — that  is — you 
"  see— they  put — great  many  things — gums — 
"  great  many  things — I  don't  know  what  they 
"  are,  just  now — I  could  look  'em  up. — 

"  So  you  see,  God,  he  knows  every  thing — 
"  he  tell'd  the  old  man  every  thing — there's 
"  nothing  but  what  God  knows — he  knowed 
"  every  thing  about  you,  thousands  of  years 
"  before  you  were  born.  He  knows  every  thing — 
"  he  knowed  all  what  vou'd  do— he  knows  all 

IF 

"  what  you  are  going  to  do— <-and  all  what  you'll 
"  ever  do.  He  knowed  every  thing — he  knovv- 
"  ed  what  lots  of  land  you'd  buy,  and  where 
"  you'd  build  your  barns. — And  now,  my 
u  friends,  what  a  God  this  is !  He  knows 
"  every  thing.  You  may  think  that  you  can 
"  deceive  him — and  hide  from  him — but  you 
u  can't  deceive  him— you  can't  hide  any  thing 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.  323 

u  from  him — He  knows  every  thing — he  can 
"  tell  you  every  thing.  So  then,  you  see, 
u  there  is  no  escaping  from  God !  We  must 
"  worship  God — The  or.ly  way  to  be  happy  is  to. 
"  worship  God — only  way,  to  worship  God,  and 
"  keep  the  sabbath — nothing  else  makes  a  man 
"  happy.  I  once  knew  a  man-— great  man  he  was — 
"  great  deal  of  land — but  he  had  nothing  to  do 
'*  with  God — nothing  to  do  with  God — lived 
u  without  God  in  the  world— never  minded  the 
"  sabbath ;  no,  not  he  ! — Well,  he  had  a  son 
"  died — his  only  son — son  grown  up  a  man — 
"  large  family — and  when  his  son  was  dead, 
"  every  body  thought  he'd  take  on — take  on, 
"  so  as  nothing  was  like  it."— But  his  son's  death 
"  brought  him  to  God— he  grew  serious* — and 
"  when  one  of  his  friends  asked  him  whether  or  no 
"  he  was  not  unhappy  about  losing  his  son — 
"  he  answered,  that  he  never  was  so  happy  in  all 
"  his  life! — no,  not  in  all  his  life! — and,  says  he, 
"  *  If  I  had  twelve  sons,  and  I  was  sure  that  every 
"  '  one's  dying  would  make  me  as  happy  as 
"  *  my  son's  dying  has  made  me  now — I  should 
"  *  wish  'em  every  one — every  one  of  the  twelve 
"  4  — to  die!'  " 

After  all,    worse  sermons  are   preached,    by 
some  that  have  seen  a  president  of  a  college. 

*  Serious  has  the  cant  acceptation  of  reltgi' 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Connecticut — Stafford  Springs — Pomfret. 

THE  Indians  first  made  the  settlers  acquaint- 
ed with  the  virtues  of  the  chalybeate  springs  in 
Stafford,  when,  in  the  year  1719,  this  part  of  the 
country  began  to  be  settled.  It  had  been  their 
practice,  time  immemorial,  to  resort  to  them  in 
the  warm  season  of  the  year,  and  plant  their  wig- 
wams round  them.  They  recommended  the  wa- 
ter as  an  eye- water  ;  but  gave,  as  their  own  par- 
ticular reason  for  drinking  it,  that  it  enlivened 
the  spirits.  In  1766,  they  were  carefully  ex- 
amined by  Dr.  Warren,  of  Rhode  Island,  who 
then  entertained  a  thought  of  purchasing  the 
land  on  which  they  rise,  with  a  view  to  establish- 
ing himself  upon  "it.  Subsequent  events  trans- 
formed the  same  physician  into  a  soldier,  and 
the  doctor  fell,  with  the  rank  of  major-general, 
on  Bunker's  Hill.  Dr.  Willard,  the  present 
proprietor,  has  put  Dr.  Warren's  plan  into  prac- 
tice, by  building  a  large  house,  for  the  reception 
of  patients  and  others. 

The  mineral  substances,  held  in  solution  in 
this  water,  are  said  to  have  been  found  by 
analysis  to  be  carbonated  iron  and  sulphat  of 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  kc  325 

magnesia.  The  iron  is  in  considerable  propor- 
tion ;  but  the  carbonic  acid  is  less  remarkable  in 
this  than  in  several  other  springs.  Some  per- 
sons have  said,  and  perhaps  with  good  founda- 
tion, that  the  water  resembles  that  of  Tun- 
bridge  in  England,  but  that  it  is  stronger.  Ex- 
posed to  the  action  of  the  caustic  fixed  alkali,  it 
throws  down  an  ochrous  precipitate.  Prus- 
siats  of  lime  and  potass  communicate  a  dis-> 
cernible  blue  tinge ;  and  muriat  of  barytes  a 
very  copious  sediment.  The  water  is  said  to 
have  effected  more  than  one  extraordinary  cure 
in  dropsy,  and  is  recommended  in  all  the  com- 
plaints for  which  chalybeates  are  usually  resort- 
ed to.  In  the  neighbourhood,  the  greater  num- 
ber of  patients  that  it  attracts  appear  to  be  such 
as  labour  under  scrofulous  diseases.  That,  of 
which  I  heard  the  name  in  every  one's  mouth,  is 
the  salt  rheum. 

The  springs,  and  the  hotel  of  which  they  are 
appurtenances,  are  both  on  the  edge  of  a  stage  - 
road,  called  the  upper  road,  between  New  York, 
Hartford  and  Boston  ;  and  to  this  circumstance 
they  appear  to  be  indebted  for  many  of  their 
wealthier  visitors.  Among  those  that  resort 
to  them  solely  for  medical  relief,  the  spirit, 
or  perhaps  the  necessity  of  frugality,  appears  to 
lead  to  a  serious  error.  They  make  but  a  ^  u~ 
short  stay,  and  hope,  by  excessive  drinking  at 


TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART 

the  fountain,  to  render  that  stay  equivalent  to  a 
very  long  one.  They  take  their  departure  before 
they  have  drank  the  water  long  enough  to  justify 
them  in  drinking  it  freely  ;  and  hence  there  may 
be  reason  to  fear,  that  they  go  away,  not  only 
not  benefited,  but  really  injured.  There  are 
bath-houses  on  the  premises,  in  which  are  both 
warm  and  cold  baths. 

There  were  usually  from  twenty  to  thirty 
rustic  inmates ;  and  when  the  scene  was  not 
diversified  by  the  arrival  of  cits,  from  Boston  or 
elsewhere,  the  dinner-scene  presented  only  the 
true  rustic  manners.  All  the  women  sat  toge- 
ther, beginning  at  the  lower  end  of  the  table  ;  and 
all  the  men  together,  toward  the  upper  ;  and  the 
only  communication  between  them  resulted  from 
the  necessity  under  which  the  men  appeared  to  la- 
bour to  be  helped  by  the  women.  Above  all  things, 
a  man  never  seemed  to  think  that  he  could  make 
an  incision  in  a  pie-crust.  I  have  seen  one  sit  for 
half  an  hour  with  an  empty  plate,  while  there  was 
a  meat  -pie  before  him,  to  which  he  neither  help- 
ed himself,  nor  offered  to  help  any  one  else.  Be- 
ing also  the  last  in  the  line  of  males,  he  had  a 
line  of  the  younger  females  below  him,  all  with 
empty  plates,  patiently  waiting  till  the  gentle - 
•men  were  served ;  but  this  had  no  effect  upon 
him  ;  to  make  a  breach  in  the  pie-crust  was  im- 
possible. Each  individual,  as  soon  as  he  had 
dined,  carried  his  chair  to  the  wall,  and  left  the 


OP  THE  UNITED  STATES.         327 

room.  The  women,  every  one  when  she  had 
dined,  drew  away  their  chairs  to  the  windows. 
The  servants  of  the  house,  in  conformity  with 
these  manners,  which  are  the  manners  of  the 
country,  carried  away  the  table  when  they  car- 
ried away  the  cloth,  and  drove  away  loiterers 
with  an  army  of  brooms. 

The  separation  of  the  sexes  prevails,  in  New 
England,  through  all  the  intercourse  of  society, 
even  where  the  condition  of  life  is  many  re- 
moves from  the  rustic.  On  that  awful  occasion, 
a  tea-party,  all  the  ladies  occupy  one  side  of 
the  room,  and  all  the  gentlemen  the  other ;  and 
one  consequence  is,  that  the  gentlemen  talk 
politics,  and  the  ladies  listen  in  silence ;  for  the 
ladies  are  rarely  politicians  :  "  In  monarchies," 
says  a  French  writer,  "  the  women  are  every 
"  thing ;  in  republics,  nothing." 

As  to  a  man's  helping  himself  at  table,  the 
contrary  is  practised  to  a  degree  that  offers  to 
the  mind  of  a  stranger  the  most  ludicrous  pic- 
ture of  indolence  ;  it  is  however,  only,  a  picture 
of  habit.  The  sturdiest  and  grimmest  wayfarer, 
at  the  poorest  inn,  is  in  this  particular  waited 
upon  like  a  bashaw,  but  always  by  a  female 
hand ;  for,  if  there  happens  to  be  no  female  at 
his  service,  then,  as  the  expression  is,  he  may 
wait  upon  himself.  If  he  asks  for  breakfast  or 
mtpper,  it  is  not  sufficient  to  place  all  the  lonpr 


TIIUQUGHTA 


528  TRAVELS  THROUGH  TART 

list  of  requisite  articles  upon  thetable,  but  a  female 
must  attend  him  through  his  meal,  to  pour  out 
his  tea  or  coffee,  and  put  milk  and  sugar  into  it. 
She  must  also  cut  him  a  piece  of  apple-pie,  to 
eat  after  his  tea — put  it  upon  his  plate — and,  in 
short,  do  every  thing — but  eat  it.  A  good  wo- 
man, giving  me  an  account  of  her  having  gone 
out  one  evening  with  her  neighbours,  observed, 
that  "  For  her  part,  she  had  not  had  the  smallest 
"  idea  of  going,  till  the  very  moment  before  her 
"  departure ;  but,  her  neighbours  had  come, 
"  and  she  had  before  got  the  men  their  vic- 
"  tuals,  and  the  men  said  how  she  need  not  stay, 
"  for  they  thought  they  could  wait  upon  them- 
"  selves." 

The  evenings,  at  the  Springs,  were  generally 
spent,  by  the  young  women,  in  singing  hymns, 
of  which  a  favourite  one  was  called  the  Garden 
ffymn,  beginning  with — 

"  The  Lord  is  to  his  garden  come,"  Sec. 

They  sing  hymns  because  they  are  more  fami- 
liar with  the  words  and  tunes  of  these,  than  with 
those  of  songs ;  and  because  they  are  accus- 
tomed to  sing  them  in  parts.  A  clergyman 
happening  to  come  among  us,  prayers,  hymns 
and  chapters  in  the  bible  were  required  before, 
breakfast. 
4 


OF  THE  UNITED  STATES.          329 

But,  this  society,  as  I  have  intimated,  was 
sometimes  thrown  into  contrast  by  the  arrival 
of  persons  of  another  mould.  One  day,  there 
came  a  lady,  who,  with  her  husband,  was  tra- 
velling to  Hartford,  her  place  of  residence. 
She  had  an  ease  and  polish  of  manners,  such 
as  might  claim  distinction,  even  in  scenes  where 
ease  and  polish  are  less  uncommon.  She  staid 
but  twenty-four  hours.  When  she  was  gone, 
I  was  told,  but  perhaps  erroneously,  that  she 
had  been  called  the  Beauty  of  Connecticut. 
Sickness  had  now  taken  in  part  the  roses  from 
her  cheek. 

It  was  here,  by  some  Boston  guests,  that  an 
account  of  His  Majesty's  frigate  Leopard's  at- 
tack on  the  United  States'  frigate  Chesapeake 
first  reached  the  part  of  the  country  in  which  I 
was.  Nothing  very  distinct  was  to  be  learned 
upon  the  subject ;  but  the  Boston  reporters  of 
the  story  only  made  it  an  occasion  to  testify 
their  confidence  in  the  justice  and  even  magna- 
nimity of  the  British  government ;  a  sentiment 
that  I  had  afterward  the  amplest  occasion  to  hear 
more  widely,  though  perhaps  not  more  warmly 
expressed. 

From  Stafford  Springs,  I  proposed  passing  to 
Providence  and  to  Newport,  and  afterward  to 
Boston.  I  took  the  road  leading  through  Pom- 
fret,  and  into  the  town  of  Gloucester,  in  the 

•VOL.  i.  xt 


* 

330         TRAVELS  THROUGH  PART,  &c. 

territory  of  Rhode  Island  and  Providence  Plan- 
tations, where  I  remained  till  the  next  morn- 
ing. In  Pomfret,  there  is  a  cotton- manufactory 
of  some  extent ;  and  this  branch  of  business  is 
said  to  thrive  in  all  the  neighbouring  territory, 
which  was  now  before  me  ;  and  where  there  are 
said  to  be  at  least  twenty  manufactories.  There 
is  one  in  the  western  vicinity  of  Providence, 
and  three  at  Patucket,  in  the  east.  In  Smith- 
field,  there  are  several,  particularly  one  of  three 
thousand  spindles,  and  in  which  there  is  vested 
a  capital  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars. 
In  all,  the  machinery  is  entirely  moved  by  wa- 
ter. Cotton  twist  is  already  exported,  particu- 
larly to  Antwerp.  The  staple  coming  to  the 
manufacturer  free  of  any  thing  more  than  the 
coasting  freight,  he  receives  a  virtual  bounty  of 
forty  per  centum  ;  and  in  the  case  of  a  war  with 
Great  Britain,  cotton  would  be  made,  as  to  a 
degree  it  already  is,  a  succedaneum  for  wool. 
But  it  is  coarse  goods  only  that  will  be  manu- 
factured. 


END  OF  THE  FIRST  VOLUME. 


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